title: Characteristics of rheumatoid arthritis in Algeria: a multicenter study.
abstract: The aim of this study was to compare the epidemiology of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in North Africa to that of Western countries. We have enrolled in a cross-sectional study all consecutive patients presenting with the diagnosis of RA according to the 1987 ACR criteria, and during a 5-month period, patients were included in 11 centers across northern Algeria. Demographics, clinical data, and health assessment questionnaires (HAQ) were collected for each patient. We have estimated means, standard deviations, and 95 % confidence intervals for all parameters. Of the 249 patients (213 females and 36 males) enrolled in the study, 10 (4 %) had juvenile onset of the disease. The mean age was 50.1 ± 14.5 years, and the mean duration of RA was 8.4 ± 7.8 years. In terms of comorbidities, 18.9 % of patients reported hypertension and 5.2 % had diabetes. The mean DAS28 at inclusion was 4.3 (95 % CI 4.1-4.5); 14.0 % were in remission (DAS28 ≤ 2.6). The mean HAQ score was 0.81 ± 0.82. Rheumatoid factor was positive in 78.5 % of cases, and anti-citrullinated protein/peptide antibodies, when measured, was positive in 69.0 % of cases. Seronegative patients were older and had a relatively less severe disease. For treatment, 89.7 % of patients were taking disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs and only 4 % were taking biologics (rituximab); 90.8 % of patients were taking glucocorticoids, and none of the patients satisfied the recommended calcium intake guidelines. RA in Algeria is more common in women. Compared to reports from Western countries, RA in Algeria appears to be less aggressive, with more dominant seronegative oligoarthritis forms. The remission rate is comparable to that of Western populations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Hadj Lakhdar University, Batna, Algeria, slimani@dr.com.
authors.forename: Samy
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Slimani
authors.forename: Abdelmalek
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abbas
authors.forename: Amina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ben Ammar
authors.forename: Djemaa
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kebaili
authors.forename: El Hadi
authors.initials: el H
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.forename: Fadia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rahal
authors.forename: Mohamed Choukri
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Khamari
authors.forename: Ayada
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baltache
authors.forename: Imene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Khider
authors.forename: Riad
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chiheub
authors.forename: Khireddine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Khelif
authors.forename: Sabrina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Akbi
authors.forename: Salima
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rahmani
authors.forename: Chafia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dahou-Makhloufi
authors.forename: Nadjia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Brahimi-Mazouni
authors.forename: Sabira
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Abtroun-Benmadi
authors.forename: Aicha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ladjouze-Rezig
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000462:Algeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood; D001688:Biological Products / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002118:Calcium / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic / Q000276:immunology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012074:Remission Induction; D012698:Serologic Tests; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D001323:Autoantibodies; D001688:Biological Products; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic; C487763:cyclic citrullinated peptide; D002118:Calcium