title: Changes in the Prevalence of Rheumatic Diseases in Shantou, China, in the Past Three Decades: A COPCORD Study.
abstract: This study aimed to clarify changes in the prevalence of rheumatic diseases in Shantou, China, in the past 3 decades and validate whether stair-climbing is a risk factor for knee pain and knee osteoarthritis (KOA). The World Health Organization-International League Against Rheumatism Community Oriented Program for Control of Rheumatic Diseases (COPCORD) protocol was implemented. In all, 2337 adults living in buildings without elevators and 1719 adults living in buildings with elevators were surveyed. The prevalence of rheumatic pain at any site and in the knee was 15.7% and 10.2%, respectively; both types of pain had a significantly higher incidence in residents of buildings without elevators than was reported by people who lived in buildings with elevators (14.9% vs. 10.6% and 11.32% vs. 8.82%, respectively) (both P < 0.0001). The prevalence of rheumatic pain in the neck, lumbar spine, shoulder, elbow, and foot was 5.6%, 4.5%, 3.1%, 1.4%, and 1.8%, respectively; these findings were similar to the data from the 1987 rural survey, but were somewhat lower than data reported in the urban and suburban surveys of the 1990s, with the exception of neck and lumbar pain. The prevalence of KOA, gout, and fibromyalgia was 7.10%, 1.08%, and 0.07%, respectively, and their prevalence increased significantly compared with those in previous studies from the 20th century. There were no significant differences in the prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) (0.35%) or ankylosing spondylitis (AS) (0.31%) compared to that reported in prior surveys. The prevalence of KOA was higher in for residents of buildings without elevators than that in those who had access to elevators (16-64 years, 5.89% vs. 3.95%, P = 0.004; 16->85 years, 7.64% vs. 6.26%, P = 0.162). The prevalence of RA and AS remained stable, whereas that of KOA, gout, and fibromyalgia has increased significantly in Shantou, China, during the past 3 decades. Stair-climbing might be an important risk factor for knee pain and KOA.
authors.affiliation: The Center for Injury Prevention Research of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China.
authors.forename: Shao-Ying
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China.
authors.forename: Yao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China.
authors.forename: Yu-Ping
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China.
authors.forename: Su-Biao
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: The Third Shantou Municipal Hospital, Shantou, China.
authors.forename: Jun-Yang
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: The Fourth Shantou Municipal Hospital, Shantou, China.
authors.forename: Chu-Qing
authors.initials: CQ
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China.
authors.forename: Jian-Hua
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.affiliation: The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China.
authors.forename: Zhi-Duo
authors.initials: ZD
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.affiliation: The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China.
authors.forename: Jian-Qiu
authors.initials: JQ
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.affiliation: The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China.
authors.forename: Hong-Jin
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China.
authors.forename: Guo-Hai
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China.
authors.forename: Dan-Min
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: The Fourth Shantou Municipal Hospital, Shantou, China.
authors.forename: Huai-Yuan
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.affiliation: The Center for Injury Prevention Research of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China.
authors.forename: Li-Ping
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China.
authors.forename: Qing Yu
authors.initials: QY
authors.lastname: Zeng
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005356:Fibromyalgia / Q000453:epidemiology; D006073:Gout / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012216:Rheumatic Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult