Andrianakos A, Trontzas P, Christoyannis F, Kaskani E, Nikolia Z, Tavaniotou E, Georgountzos A, Krachtis P
Rheumatic Disease Epidemiology Section, Hellenic Foundation for Rheumatological Research, Kantza Pallini Attikis, 153 51 Athens, Greece.
Rheumatology (Oxford). 2006 Dec;45(12):1549-54. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/kel140. Epub 2006 May 11.
To assess the prevalence and management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in the general adult population of Greece.
This cross-sectional study was conducted on the total adult population (> or =19 yrs old) of seven communities (8,547 subjects), and on 2,100 out of 5,686 randomly selected subjects in two additional communities. 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. Diagnosis of RA was based on the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) 1987 criteria.
A total of 8,740 subjects participated (response rate 82.1%). RA was diagnosed in 59 individuals. The prevalence of RA was 0.68% (95% CI 0.51-0.85); it was significantly higher in females than males (P< 0.0005), and increased significantly with age up to and including the 50-59-yr-old group (P< 0.002), and then decreased slightly. On their first medical visit, 19% (95% CI 9.7-30.9) of the RA patients had consulted a rheumatologist, while during the first year after disease onset, 61% (95% CI 48.6-73.4) had done so. Early consultation with a rheumatologist and disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD) combination therapy were negatively associated with ACR functional classes II-IV [adjusted odds ratios 0.18 (95% CI 0.04-0.85) and 0.17 (95% CI 0.04-0.72), respectively].
The prevalence of RA in the general adult population of Greece is similar to that in many other European countries; early consultation with a rheumatologist and DMARD combination therapy are associated with a better RA outcome.
评估希腊普通成年人群中类风湿关节炎（RA）的患病率及治疗情况。
本横断面研究针对七个社区的全部成年人群（≥19岁，共8547名受试者）以及另外两个社区中随机选取的5686名受试者中的2100名进行。该研究基于标准化问卷，并在必要时进行临床评估和实验室检查，由风湿科医生上门对目标人群进行调查。RA的诊断依据美国风湿病学会（ACR）1987年标准。
共有8740名受试者参与（应答率82.1%）。59人被诊断为RA。RA的患病率为0.68%（95%可信区间0.51 - 0.85）；女性患病率显著高于男性（P < 0.0005），且在50 - 59岁组及之前随年龄显著增加（P < 0.002），之后略有下降。在首次就诊时，19%（95%可信区间9.7 - 30.9）的RA患者曾咨询过风湿科医生，而在疾病发作后的第一年，61%（95%可信区间48.6 - 73.4）的患者咨询过。早期咨询风湿科医生和使用改善病情抗风湿药物（DMARD）联合治疗与ACR功能分级II - IV呈负相关[调整后的优势比分别为0.18（95%可信区间0.04 - 0.85）和0.17（95%可信区间0.04 - 0.72）]。
希腊普通成年人群中RA的患病率与许多其他欧洲国家相似；早期咨询风湿科医生和DMARD联合治疗与更好的RA治疗结果相关。
