[Incidence and prevalence of disabled rheumatic patients. A socio-epidemiological study on the services of the disability insurance system in the canton of Berne].

The incidence and prevalence of patients with musculoskeletal disorders benefiting from the Swiss invalidity insurance system in the Canton of Berne, Switzerland, are studied. During a 5-year period 1252 such patients (393 women) first received either payments or were supported by rehabilitation measures (incidence). The correlation of this incidence with sociodemographic factors such as sex, age, disease pattern, place of residence and occupation, as well as the type of service delivered, are analyzed and discussed. At a given date (March 1982) 2754 patients with musculoskeletal disorders were receiving insurance pension (prevalence). By relating these figures to census data (total population), a 1.37% 5-year benefit incidence and a 3.02% pension prevalence can be calculated.