title: Osteoarthritis in Latin America: Study of Demographic and Clinical Characteristics in 3040 Patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Latin America is a heterogeneous region made up of different populations, cultures, latitudes, altitudes, and immigrants from different areas and ethnic groups.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study is to describe the clinical and demographic profile of patients with osteoarthritis (OA) evaluated by a selected group of rheumatologists in 13 Latin American countries.
  
  
  METHODS
  A descriptive, observational, cross-sectional study was conducted in 13 Latin American countries of patients with symptomatic OA. Data were collected over a 3-month period using an ad hoc questionnaire to evaluate the clinical and demographic features of OA seen by rheumatologists.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the 3040 patients, their average age was 62.5 years, and female-to-male ratio was 4.8:1. Patients with body mass index of greater than 30 kg/m or obesity was found in 38.2%. Approximately 88% had primary OA. Joints with OA were as follows: knee 31.2%, hand 9.5%, hand and knee 22.9%, proximal and distal interphalangeal joints (erosive OA) 6.5%, axial 6.6%, and hip 1.3%. Approximately 88.5% had radiographic severity of grade 2 or 3 on Kellgren-Lawrence scale (0-4). Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs were the predominant OA treatment included in combinations with glucosamine sulfate/chondroitin and viscosupplementation. Associated comorbidities included hypertension (39%), obesity (36.3%), diabetes mellitus (12%), and without comorbidity (12.7%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is 1 of the largest population studies that evaluated the characteristics of OA in 3040 patients evaluated by rheumatologists in 13 Latin American countries. This study provides important data for each Latin American country to develop new health care planning in management of OA.
authors.affiliation: From the *Division of Rheumatology, The Warren Alpert School of Medicine, Providence, RI; †Unidad de Reumatología, Instituto Autónomo Hospital Universitario de Los Andes, Universidad de Los Andes; and ‡LabMice, Universidad de Los Andes, Mérida, Venezuela; §Departamento de Reumatología, Instituto Nacional de Rehabilitación, México City; and ∥Departamento de Medicina Interna, Servicio de Reumatologia, Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo León, Mexico; ¶National Coordinator of Rheumatology and the Arthritis Clinical Research Unit at Medicarte, Medellin, Colombia; #Bone and Joint Research Unit, Fundación Jimenez Díaz, Madrid, Spain; **Servicio de Reumatología del Hospital Dr E. Tornu, Buenos Aires, Argentina; ††Catedra de Reumatología de la Facultad de Medicina de la Universidad de la Republica, Montevideo, Uruguay; ‡‡Departamento de Reumatología de la Universidad CES, Medellin, Colombia; §§Departamento de Reumatología, Universidad de Chile; and ∥∥Departamento de Reumatología, Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile; ¶¶Servicio de Reumatología del Hospital Quirúrgico 10 de Octubre and ##Servicio de Reumatología del Hospital Frank País, Havana, Cuba; ***Servicio de Reumatología Hospital Santa Cruz, Caja Petrolera de Salud Techo Académico Universidad Católica San Pablo; †††Servicio de Medicina Interna del Hospital Obrero N° 3 de la Caja Nacional de Salud, Santa Cruz, Universidad Santo Tomas De Aquino, Santa Cruz; and ‡‡‡Servicio de Reumatología Kolping y Hospital Alfonzo Gumucio-Techo Académico Universidad Católica San Pablo, San Pablo, Bolivia, §§§Post-Grado de Reumatología, AGAR, FM, UFM, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Francisco Marroquín, Ciudad de Guatemala, Guatemala; ∥∥∥Servicio de Reumatología, Instituto Salvadoreño del Seguro Social, San Miguel, El Salvador; ¶¶¶Servicio de Reumatología del Hospital de Clínicas de Asunción, Universidad Nacional de Asunción, Asunción, Paraguay; ###
authors.forename: Anthony M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Reginato
authors.forename: Humberto
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Riera
authors.forename: Mariflor
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vera
authors.forename: Adrian R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Torres
authors.forename: Rolando
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Espinosa
authors.forename: Jorge A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Esquivel
authors.forename: Oscar Jair
authors.initials: OJ
authors.lastname: Felipe
authors.forename: Jorge Roman
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Blas
authors.forename: Oscar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Rillo
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Papasidero
authors.forename: Renee
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Souto
authors.forename: Cesar
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: José F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Molina
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ballesteros
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Radrigan
authors.forename: Marlene
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Guibert
authors.forename: Araceli
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chico
authors.forename: María L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Gil
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Camacho
authors.forename: Lorena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Urioste
authors.forename: Abraham K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.forename: Isa
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Iraheta
authors.forename: Carmen E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Gutierrez
authors.forename: Margarita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Duarte
authors.forename: Oswaldo
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Castañeda
authors.forename: Ibsen
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Coimbra
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Muñoz Louis
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Reveille
authors.forename: Maritza
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Quintero
mesh_terms: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001175:Arthrography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D005944:Glucosamine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007843:Latin America / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D055675:Viscosupplements / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D055675:Viscosupplements; D005944:Glucosamine