Epidemiologic study of soft tissue rheumatism in Shantou and Taiyuan, China.

BACKGROUND: Soft tissue rheumatism is a group of common rheumatic disorders reported in many countries. For investigating the prevalence rate of soft tissue rheumatism in different population in China, we carried out a population study in Shantou rural and Taiyuan urban area. METHODS: Samples of 3915 adults in an urban area of Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, and 2350 in a rural area of Shantou, Guangdong Province were surveyed. Modified International League of Association for Rheumatology (ILAR)-Asia Pacific League of Association for Rheumatology (APLAR) Community Oriented Program for Control of Rheumatic Diseases (COPCORD) core questionnaire was implemented as screening tool. The positive responders were then all examined by rheumatologists. RESULTS: Prevalence rate of soft tissue rheumatism was 2.0% in Taiyuan, and 5.3% in Shantou. Rotator cuff (shoulder) tendinitis, adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder), lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow), and digital flexor tenosynovitis (trigger finger) were the commonly seen soft tissue rheumatism in both areas. Tatarsalgia, plantar fasciitis, and De Quervain's tenosynovitis were more commonly seen in Shantou than that in Taiyuan. Only 1 case of fibromyalgia was found in Taiyuan and 2 cases in Shantou. The prevalence of soft tissue rheumatism varied with age, sex and occupation. CONCLUSIONS: Soft tissue rheumatism is common in Taiyuan and Shantou, China. The prevalence of soft tissue rheumatism was quite different with different geographic, environmental, and socioeconomic conditions; and varying with age, sex, and occupation. The prevalence of fibromyalgia is low in the present survey.

[A cross-sectional population survey of knee osteoarthritis in Taiyuan region].

OBJECTIVE: Osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee is found to be one of the commonest rheumatic disorders. For prevention of knee OA, the risk factors for this condition should first be identified. METHODS: A population sample of 2188 adults aged 35 - 64 years, living in 6-story buildings without elevators, was surveyed from April to August 2005 in the urban of Taiyuan region, north China. Protocol of APLAR-COPCORD Core Questionnaire for identification of risk factors for knee OA was implemented. The positive respondents were examined simultaneously by rheumatologists. Lateral and anterior-posterior non-weight-bearing knee radiographs were arranged. Variables such as sex, age, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, education level, and smoking et al, were included in binary logistic regression model for further analysis. RESULTS: Prevalence rate of knee pain and knee OA was 13.6% and 10.9% respectively, significantly higher than that in Shantou--in south of China and similar with Beijing--in north of China. Both of these prevalence was significantly higher in women than that in men (18.3% vs. 8.7% and 15.1% vs. 6.3%), and with a tendency of being increased with age. The prevalence rate of knee OA was increased more obviously in people after 40 years old in women and after 45 years old in men. BMI in knee OA group was significantly higher than that in non-knee OA group. Binary logistic regression revealed that age, sex, and BMI were significantly associated with knee OA. Whereas there were no significant association between the other factors such as climbing stairs, waist circumference, time length of occupation service, education level, smoking, as well as religious belief and knee OA. CONCLUSIONS: Geography, aging (aged > 40 years in woman and > 45 years in man, respectively), female, and overweight (BMI > or = 24 kg/m(2)) might be the associated risk factors of knee OA. No association between climbing stairs and knee OA was found. Prevention of knee OA should be initiated before the middle-aged, especially in female. Controlling body weight and avoiding obesity are important in preventing knee OA.

Associated risk factors of knee osteoarthritis: a population survey in Taiyuan, China.

BACKGROUND: Since knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is one of the common diseases, identification of its associated risk factors is of preventive significance. This investigation was designed to investigate the prevalence of KOA in Taiyuan, and identify the associated risk factors of KOA. METHODS: A population sample was surveyed of 2188 adults aged from 35 to 64 years, living in 6-story buildings without elevators. The protocol of Asia Pacific League of Associations for Rheumatology (APLAR) Community Oriented Program for Control of Rheumatic Diseases (COPCORD) core questionnaire was implemented. The data on knee pain and KOA were collected and analyzed. Variables such as sex, age, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), education level, and smoking history, were included in binary logistic regression model for further analysis. RESULTS: The prevalence rates of knee pain and KOA were 13.6% and 10.9%, respectively, significantly higher than those in Shantou of south China and similar to those in Beijing of north China. The prevalence of KOA was significantly higher in women than in men (18.3% versus 8.7% and 15.1% versus 6.3%), with a tendency of increase with age. The prevalence was increased more obviously in women after 40 years old and in men after 45 years old. BMI in KOA group was significantly higher than that in non-KOA group. Binary Logistic regression revealed that age, sex, and BMI were significantly associated with KOA, whereas no significant correlation was seen between KOA and other factors such as climbing stairs, WC, time length of occupation service, education level, smoking history and religious belief. CONCLUSION: Geography, age, sex, and BMI might be the risk factors of KOA, but climbing stairs, WC, time length of occupation service, education level, smoking history and religious belief are not correlated with KOA. Prevention of KOA should be initiated before the middle-age, especially in female adults, and weight control is necessary. Other factors might also contribute to the development of KOA, but further study is needed to elucidate the role of these factors.