Prevalence studies in rheumatology: the methodology of the Chiavari study

Abstract

Objectives: Goals of epidemiological studies are the description of the measures of frequency of diseases, the attempt to clarify possible etiopathogenic mechanisms, and the provision of data to support health policy decisions. To increase the familiarity of rheumatologists toward epidemiology, we describe the methodology used in a prevalence study of musculoskeletal complaints performed in Chiavari, Italy. Methods: A questionnaire, originally developed by the Epidemiology Unit of the Arthitis Research Council in Manchester, UK, to investigate the prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis, was used after translation and validation. 4456 subjects aged 16 years or more listed in four general practices were invited to participate in the study and to fill the ARC questionnaire. The 3294 responders reported a) any past occurrence of joint swelling lasting more than four weeks and the distribution of the swollen joints on a mannequin; b) any joint pain lasting more than four weeks; c) current joint pain or swelling; d) morning stiffness; e) whether they had been previously told by a doctor they had arthritis. Results: Four steps were necessary to obtain a 74% response, i.e. direct contact, two mailings and a phone interview. The performance of the different questions was good. The prevalence of the most common conditions among patients answering positively to the questions regarding morning stiffness and symmetrical swelling of joints was as follows: osteoarthritis 2.60%, fibromyalgia 1.30%, carpal tunnel syndrome 1.14%, rheumatoid arthritis 0.31%, and psoriatic arthritis 0.10%. Conclusions: Methodological issues regarding the selection of the population and sample to study, the development of a questionnaire, and the problems in obtaining valid informations are discussed

The Management of Psoriatic Arthritis in Italy: Organizational Impact Analysis of Optimized Pathwaystimized pathways

“…The Management of Psoriatic Arthritis in Italy: Organizational Impact Analysis of Optimized Pathways prevalence of psoriatic arthritis in two sample populations referred to Marche Region (central Italy, among adults with ≥ 18 years) and Chiavari (a municipality located in Liguria Region, Northern Italy, among adults with ≥ 16 years). The first study, referred to 2004, assessed a prevalence of 0.42% [10,11], while the latter, referred to 1991-1992, assessed a prevalence of 0.09% [12].…”

Μελέτη Φλεγμονωδών Σπονδυλοαρθροπαθειών

“…ηηο Δ.Π.Ώ., ν Βζληθφο Οξγαληζκφο Φσξίαζεο αλαθέξεη φηη πεξίπνπ 23% ησλ αζζελψλ κε ςσξίαζε έρνπλ ΦΏ. Παξφια απηά ε γεληθή άπνςε είλαη φηη ν επηπνιαζκφο θπκαίλεηαη κεηαμχ 7-10%[223][224][225].Ο επηπνιαζκφο ηεο ΦΏ ζε αζζελείο κε ςσξίαζε, φπσο πξναλαθέξζεθε, πνηθίιεη ζεκαληηθά ζηηο κειέηεο δηαθφξσλ ρσξψλ. ηε κειέηε ηνπ Gisondi[226], ν επηπνιαζκφο ηεο ΦΏ κεηαμχ ησλ 936 αζζελψλ κε ςσξίαζε πνπ πήξαλ κέξνο ζηελ κειέηε ήηαλ 7,7%.…”