Peacock D J, Cooper C
Department of Rheumatology, Queen Alexandra Hospital, Cosham, Portsmouth, UK.
Curr Opin Rheumatol. 1995 Mar;7(2):82-6. doi: 10.1097/00002281-199503000-00002.
Epidemiologic studies are important for both understanding and defining rheumatology practice. Controversy still exists over whether the incidence of rheumatoid arthritis is declining, and genetic studies indicate a diversity of HLA haplotypes in rheumatoid arthritis. Large longitudinal osteoarthritis studies have helped define diagnostic criteria and the role of obesity in disease progression. The negative association between osteoarthritis and osteoporosis at specific sites continues to be explored, and the value of long-term estrogen therapy in preventing bone loss has been examined. Both retrospective and prospective population studies have been used to describe the relationship between silicone gel breast implants and connective tissue disease. These and other studies have helped to define the important role of epidemiologic research in the understanding of rheumatic diseases.
流行病学研究对于理解和界定风湿病学实践都很重要。类风湿关节炎的发病率是否正在下降仍存在争议，并且基因研究表明类风湿关节炎中存在多种人类白细胞抗原（HLA）单倍型。大型纵向骨关节炎研究有助于确定诊断标准以及肥胖在疾病进展中的作用。特定部位骨关节炎与骨质疏松症之间的负相关关系仍在探索之中，同时也已对长期雌激素疗法在预防骨质流失方面的价值进行了研究。回顾性和前瞻性人群研究均已被用于描述硅胶乳房植入物与结缔组织病之间的关系。这些研究以及其他研究有助于确定流行病学研究在理解风湿性疾病方面的重要作用。
