Loading…
Prevalence of rheumatic diseases in Greece: a cross-sectional population based epidemiological study. The ESORDIG Study
OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence of rheumatic diseases in Greek urban, suburban, and rural adult general populations. METHODS: This cross-sectional population based epidemiological study of rheumatic diseases in Greece (the ESORDIG Study) was conducted on the total adult population of 2 urban, on...
Saved in:
Published in: | Journal of rheumatology 2003-07, Vol.30 (7), p.1589-1601 |
---|---|
Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | Get full text |
Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
Summary: | OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence of rheumatic diseases in Greek urban, suburban, and rural adult general populations. METHODS:
This cross-sectional population based epidemiological study of rheumatic diseases in Greece (the ESORDIG Study) was conducted
on the total adult population of 2 urban, one suburban, and 4 rural communities (8547 subjects), as well as on 2100 out of
5686 randomly selected subjects in one suburban and one rural community. The study, based on a standardized questionnaire
and clinical evaluation and laboratory investigation when necessary, was carried out by rheumatologists who visited the target
population at their homes. Either established classification criteria or criteria set for the purposes of the study were used
for diagnosis. RESULTS: A total of 8740 subjects participated in the study (response rate 82.1%). The overall age and sex
adjusted prevalence (prevalence(asa)) of rheumatic diseases in the total target adult population was 26.9% (95% CI 26.2-27.6),
being significantly higher among women (33.7%) than men (19.9%) (p < 0.0005). Disease prevalence(asa) increased significantly
with age (p < 0.0005). The most common disease group was low back pain, with a prevalence(asa) of 11.0%, followed by symptomatic
peripheral osteoarthritis (7.9%), neck pain (4.8%), miscellaneous rheumatic disorders (4.4%), soft tissue rheumatism disorders
(4.3%), and inflammatory rheumatic disease (2.1%). Logistic regression analysis showed a significant positive association
of female or male sex, age >or= 50 years, high body mass index, low level of education, moderate or heavy alcohol consumption,
and high socioeconomic level with particular diseases or disease groups. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate rheumatic diseases
are very common in the general adult population of Greece; 26.9% of adults currently have active or chronic rheumatic disease
in remission. |
---|---|
ISSN: | 0315-162X 1499-2752 |