Prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders and rheumatic diseases in Cuenca, Ecuador: a WHO-ILAR COPCORD study.

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of musculoskeletal pain and rheumatic diseases in subjects over 18 years of age from the canton of Cuenca, Ecuador. Cross-sectional analytical community-based study was conducted in subjects over 18 years of age using the validated Community-Oriented Program for the Control of Rheumatic Diseases (COPCORD) questionnaire. Random sampling was used. The questionnaire was administered by standardized health workers. Subjects were visited house by house. Subjects positive for musculoskeletal (MSK) pain in the last 7 days and at some point in life were assessed by rheumatologists to confirm the diagnosis. A total of 4877 subjects participated, with an average age of 42.8 (SD 18.8) years of age; 59.7 % were women; 69.7 % lived in urban areas. 32.5 % reported MSK pain in the last 7 days and 45.7 % at some point in life. The prevalence of knee osteoarthritis was 7.4 %, hand osteoarthritis 5.3 %, low back pain 9.3 %, rheumatoid arthritis 0.8 %, fibromyalgia 2 %, gout 0.4 %, and lupus 0.06 %. Subjects from rural areas reported experiencing more MSK pain in the last 7 days and at some point in life, lower income, poorer health-care coverage, and increased physical activity involving repetitive tasks such as lifting weights or cooking with firewood. MSK pain prevalence was high. Osteoarthritis and low back pain were the most common diseases. Age, sex, physical activity, repetitive tasks, living in a rural area, and lack of health-care coverage were found to be associated with MSK pain.

Características socio-demográficas asociadas a la presencia de dolor músculo-esquelético, en Cuenca-Ecuador / Socio - demographic characteristics associated with the presence of skeletal muscle pain, in Cuenca - Ecuador

RESUMENOBJETIVO: Determinar las características socio-demo-gráficas asociadas a la presencia de dolor músculo-esquelético (MSQ) en personas mayores de 18 años que viven en el Cantón Cuenca.PACIENTES Y MÉTODOS: Estudio transversal analítico, realizado en su-jetos del área rural y urbana, mayores de 18 años, utilizando la metodología COPCORD (Community Oriented Program for the Con-trol of Rheumatic Diseases), adaptada para Ecuador. Se identificaron a los individuos con síntomas reumáticos, casa por casa. La revisión para confirmar el diagnóstico realizó un médico Reumatólogo.El análisis estadístico fue univariado y multi-variado. RESULTADOS:Participaron 2500 personas encuestadas, el 59,6% correspondió al sexo femenino, con una edad promedio de 42,8 años, el 25,5% de los participantes realizaban actividades domésticas. El dolor MSQ se presentó en el 32,2% de las personas, el cual se asoció sig-nificativamente a vivir en el área rural, tener menor escolaridad, ingresos económicos por debajo de 340 dólares, carga física ma-yor de 8 libras, mayor discapacidad funcional y el cocinar con leña en el sector rural. CONCLUSIÓN: El dolor MSQ tiene un alta prevalencia en la población de Cuenca, Ecuador; producien-do discapacidad especialmente en el área rural. se asocia con menor nivel de escola-ridad, ingresos económicos bajos y mayor carga física.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the socio-demographic cha-racteristics associated with the presence of musculoskeletal pain (MSK) in people over 18 years who are living in Cuenca.PATIENTS AND METHODSAn analytical cross-sectional study was con-ducted in subjects of rural and urban areas, who are over 18 years, using the metho-dology COPCORD (Community Oriented Program for the Control of Rheumatic Di-seases) adapted to Ecuador. We identified individuals with rheumatic symptoms, house by house. The revision to confirm the diagnosis was made by a rheumatologist. The statistical analysis was univariate and multivariate. RESULTSA total of 2500 people were surveyed. The 59.6% were female, with an average age of 42.8 years, the 25.5% of participants perfor-med domestic activities. The MSK pain oc-curred in 32.2% of people, which was signi-ficantly associated with living in rural areas, have lower education, lower income to $ 340, increased physical load of 8 pounds, more functional disability, and cooking with firewood in the rural area. CONCLUSIONThe MSK pain has a high prevalence in the population of Cuenca, Ecuador; producing disability especially in rural areas. It is asso-ciated with lower levels of education, lower income and increased physical load