Incidence of rheumatoid arthritis [2001 to 2011]

ABSTRACT

The incidence of rheumatoid arthritis[RA] varies from country to another which not depend on genetic bases alone but can explained by environmental exposure and genetic and environmental interaction, area of military conflict, there was stress induced pathway that elevates the risk for rheumatoid arthritis, in Iraq rheumatoid was 1% of population in 1975. To evaluate incidence of RA in Babylon -Iraq from 2001-2011. This study was done to examine the incidence of RA in Babylon between 2001-2011 by Retrospective cohort study in Merjan Teaching Hospital, Rheumatology unit .Data included sex .birth year, residency and latex test, from 2001 to 2011.All patients were diagnosed as Rheumatoid Arthritis according to American College of Rheumatology ACR 1987revised criteria of RA .the numbers of patients of RA who were received DMRADs included methotrxate therapy were recorded each year and incidence of each year was found then the cumulative incidence was calculated. There were1039 patients with rheumatoid arthritis from 53786 patients in rheumatology unit. 50.1% living in urban area while 49.9% in rural area. The incidence in 2001 was 1.60 while in 2011 was 3.02 for the same population and the cumulative incidence in 2011 was 22.74. Latex test was 52% in2001 while in2011 was 58% in rheumatoid patients in the same year. The P value for age mean difference between female and male was [0.009]. The incidence of RA was increasing from 1.60% in 2001 to 3.02% in 2011 and the cumulative risk wasb22.74% in Babylon -Iraq