ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence of symptomatic knee, hand, and hip osteoarthritis (OA) in the general adult population of Greece. METHODS: This cross-sectional population based study was conducted on the total adult population of 7 communities (8547 subjects) and on 2100 out of 5686 randomly selected subjects in an additional 2 communities. Sixteen rheumatologists visited the target population at their homes; an interview based on a standardized questionnaire was conducted and clinical evaluation and laboratory investigations were done, when necessary. ACR classification criteria were used for diagnosing symptomatic OA. RESULTS: Of the final target population of 10,647 subjects, 8740 (82.1%) participated in the study. The age and sex adjusted prevalence of symptomatic knee, hand, and hip OA was 6.0% (95% CI 5.6-6.4), 2% (1.8-2.2), and 0.9% (0.7-1.1), respectively. Symptomatic knee, hand, and hip OA prevalence was significantly higher among women than men and increased significantly with age. Symptomatic knee OA was significantly more common in the rural compared to urban and suburban populations. Logistic regression analysis showed a significant association of female sex and age > or = 50 years with all sites of OA, of obesity with knee and hip OA, and of a low level of education with knee OA. CONCLUSION: Symptomatic knee, hand, and hip OA is common in the general adult population of Greece, showing a female preponderance and a prevalence increasing with age. Female sex and age are risk factors for all sites of OA, obesity for knee and hip OA, and a low level of education for knee OA.
Subject(s)
Hand Joints/physiopathology , Osteoarthritis, Hip/epidemiology , Osteoarthritis, Knee/epidemiology , Population Surveillance , Adult , Age Factors , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Greece/epidemiology , Hand Joints/pathology , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Osteoarthritis, Hip/diagnosis , Osteoarthritis, Hip/physiopathology , Osteoarthritis, Knee/diagnosis , Osteoarthritis, Knee/physiopathology , Prevalence , Risk Factors , Rural Health , Sex Factors , Surveys and Questionnaires , Urban HealthABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence of rheumatic diseases in Greek urban, suburban, and rural adult general populations. METHODS: This cross-sectional population based epidemiological study of rheumatic diseases in Greece (the ESORDIG Study) was conducted on the total adult population of 2 urban, one suburban, and 4 rural communities (8547 subjects), as well as on 2100 out of 5686 randomly selected subjects in one suburban and one rural community. The study, based on a standardized questionnaire and clinical evaluation and laboratory investigation when necessary, was carried out by rheumatologists who visited the target population at their homes. Either established classification criteria or criteria set for the purposes of the study were used for diagnosis. RESULTS: A total of 8740 subjects participated in the study (response rate 82.1%). The overall age and sex adjusted prevalence (prevalence(asa)) of rheumatic diseases in the total target adult population was 26.9% (95% CI 26.2-27.6), being significantly higher among women (33.7%) than men (19.9%) (p < 0.0005). Disease prevalence(asa) increased significantly with age (p < 0.0005). The most common disease group was low back pain, with a prevalence(asa) of 11.0%, followed by symptomatic peripheral osteoarthritis (7.9%), neck pain (4.8%), miscellaneous rheumatic disorders (4.4%), soft tissue rheumatism disorders (4.3%), and inflammatory rheumatic disease (2.1%). Logistic regression analysis showed a significant positive association of female or male sex, age >or= 50 years, high body mass index, low level of education, moderate or heavy alcohol consumption, and high socioeconomic level with particular diseases or disease groups. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate rheumatic diseases are very common in the general adult population of Greece; 26.9% of adults currently have active or chronic rheumatic disease in remission.
