Prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders and rheumatic diseases in an Argentinean indigenous Wichi community.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSK) and rheumatic diseases in an indigenous Wichi population in Argentina. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional, community-based study using the Community-Oriented Program for the Control of Rheumatic Diseases (COPCORD) methodology in ≥ 18-year-old subjects. Validated surveys were conducted by trained interviewers. Subjects with MSK pain (positive cases) were evaluated by internists and rheumatologists for diagnosis and treatment. RESULTS: A total of 648 interviews were performed (90.4% of the census population). Mean age was 37.5 years (SD 14.8), and 379 (58.5%) were female. The mean years of education was 7.0 (SD 3.7); 552 subjects (85.2%) were covered by the public health care system. A total of 216 (33.3%) subjects had MSK pain in the last 7 days. Rheumatic disease prevalence was as follows: mechanical back pain (19.0%), rheumatic regional pain syndrome (5.2%), osteoarthritis (3.2%), rheumatoid arthritis (RA) (3.2%), inflammatory back pain (1.2%), undifferentiated arthritis (0.3%), Sjögren syndrome (0.15%), and fibromyalgia (0.15%). RA patients included 19 (90.5%) women and 9 (42.9%) with RA family history. One hundred percent were seropositive and 66.7% showed radiologic erosions. The mean of Disease Activity Score [DAS-28 (ESR)] at the time of diagnosis was 5.1 (SD 1.5) and the Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index (HAQ-DI) was 0.8 (SD 0.4). CONCLUSION: RA prevalence was 3.2%, one of the highest reported using the COPCORD methodology in indigenous and non-indigenous peoples in Latin America, with a high percentage of family cases. Pain and functional capacity were the variables allowing patients' early referral to a specialist. Key Points • The RA prevalence was 3.2%, one of the highest reported using COPCORD methodology in indigenous and non-indigenous peoples in Latin America. • The patients with RA had high percentage of familiar history of RA. • The pain and functional capacity were the variables associated with a diagnosis of any rheumatic disease and should be considered for early referral. • The mean of the delay in the diagnosis was 5.8 years. In this community, the lack of the "migration health" phenomenon may be a social determinant that negatively impacts their health.

Daño radiológico en al mano dominante de pacientes con artritis reumatoidea / Radiographic damage in the dominant hand of rheumatoid artritis patients

La Artritis Reumatoide (AR) es una enfermedad inflametoria crónica que compromete predominantemente manos. El objetivo de este trabajo fue determinar la prevalencia de daño radiológico en la mano dominante (MD) de pacientes con AR. Material y métodos: se realizó un estudio transversal, se incluyeron pacientes con AR (ACR 87Æ) de la consulta ambulatoria (noviembre de 2011 a julio de 2012). Se determinó la MD y se realizó lectura radiológica por un lector ciego validado, mediante Sharp van der Heijde modificado. Estadística: se realizó estadística descriptiva básica, y comparaciones mediante Chi2, test de Fisher o test de T para muestras relacionadas según correspondiera. Se consideró p<0,50 como significativa. Resultados: se incluyeron 52 pacientes, 43 mujeres (82,7%), la mediana de edad de 47 años (RIC: 41-56), de evolución de la AR de 10 años (RIC: 3-14). En 50 pacientes (96,2%), la mano derecha fue MD. No se encontraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas en el puntaje total de SvdH modificado, ni de pinzamiento, ni de erosiones. Los varones tuvieron el doble de puntaje medio erosivo, pero no significativo. Conclusión: no se puede demostrar asociación entre la MD y el daño radiológico. Debería estudiarse el subgrupo masculino en estudios de mayor poder estadístico

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is an inflammatory disease that affects thehand joints. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of domi-nant hand affection in RA patients. Methods:A cross sectional study was designed that included RA pa-tients (ACR 87Æ criteria), that concurred to rheumatologic clinic, fromNovember 2011 to July 2012. Descriptive data was taken, and a radio-logic scoring by Sharp van der Heijde score was assessed comparingboth hands. Statistics:The variables were compared by Chi2, Fisher orT-student tests and a p <0.05 value was considered significant.Results: Fifty-two patients were included, 43 female (82.7%), 47 yearsof median age (IQR: 41-56), and 10 years of median disease evolution.In 50 patients (96.2%), the right hand was dominant. There were no dif-ferences between both hands in the total mSvdH score, nor the erosionnor the space narrowing score. Male patients were more prone to havehigher erosive scores, but the number was small (six).Conclusion: No association was seen between radiological damageand dominant hand. Male patients should be included in future studiesto clarify this issue in this sub-group of RA patients.(AU)

Daño radiológico en al mano dominante de pacientes con artritis reumatoidea / Radiographic damage in the dominant hand of rheumatoid artritis patients

La Artritis Reumatoide (AR) es una enfermedad inflametoria crónica que compromete predominantemente manos. El objetivo de este trabajo fue determinar la prevalencia de daño radiológico en la mano dominante (MD) de pacientes con AR. Material y métodos: se realizó un estudio transversal, se incluyeron pacientes con AR (ACR 87’) de la consulta ambulatoria (noviembre de 2011 a julio de 2012). Se determinó la MD y se realizó lectura radiológica por un lector ciego validado, mediante Sharp van der Heijde modificado. Estadística: se realizó estadística descriptiva básica, y comparaciones mediante Chi2, test de Fisher o test de T para muestras relacionadas según correspondiera. Se consideró p<0,50 como significativa. Resultados: se incluyeron 52 pacientes, 43 mujeres (82,7%), la mediana de edad de 47 años (RIC: 41-56), de evolución de la AR de 10 años (RIC: 3-14). En 50 pacientes (96,2%), la mano derecha fue MD. No se encontraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas en el puntaje total de SvdH modificado, ni de pinzamiento, ni de erosiones. Los varones tuvieron el doble de puntaje medio erosivo, pero no significativo. Conclusión: no se puede demostrar asociación entre la MD y el daño radiológico. Debería estudiarse el subgrupo masculino en estudios de mayor poder estadístico

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is an inflammatory disease that affects thehand joints. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of domi-nant hand affection in RA patients. Methods:A cross sectional study was designed that included RA pa-tients (ACR 87’ criteria), that concurred to rheumatologic clinic, fromNovember 2011 to July 2012. Descriptive data was taken, and a radio-logic scoring by Sharp van der Heijde score was assessed comparingboth hands. Statistics:The variables were compared by Chi2, Fisher orT-student tests and a p <0.05 value was considered significant.Results: Fifty-two patients were included, 43 female (82.7%), 47 yearsof median age (IQR: 41-56), and 10 years of median disease evolution.In 50 patients (96.2%), the right hand was dominant. There were no dif-ferences between both hands in the total mSvdH score, nor the erosionnor the space narrowing score. Male patients were more prone to havehigher erosive scores, but the number was small (six).Conclusion: No association was seen between radiological damageand dominant hand. Male patients should be included in future studiesto clarify this issue in this sub-group of RA patients.