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Between May 1986 and November 1987 we asked 4037 randomly sampled 25-74 year old german residents at Hannover (FRG) by a mailed questionnaire for back, neck and joint pain, for joint swelling and morning stiffness. Further we asked for the consultation of a physician during the past 12 months and for the use of drugs during the past 7 days because of rheumatoid complaints. 3426 members of the sample (85%) returned the questionnaire. 1828 (53%) reported at least one symptom "today" (= "the day you fill out this questionnaire"). The highest rate of persons suffering from complaints of the locomotor system was found among middle-aged women, with the maximum of 74% in the age group 50-54 years. For the illness behavior-physician consultation, use of drugs-the extent of complaints was of decisive importance. Sex was without, age of very low influence. The rate of those who reported the consultation of a physician and/or the use of drugs was increasing with the amount of positive answers to the questions on rheumatoid complaints. Nevertheless, of those who had answered in the affirmative all questions on complaints, 10% had denied the question on physician consultation. 41% had denied the question on the use of analgetic/antirheumatic drugs.