Prevalence of rheumatic disease in Colombia according to the Colombian Rheumatology Association (COPCORD) strategy. Prevalence study of rheumatic disease in Colombian population older than 18 years

摘要

IntroductionRheumatic diseases are the leading cause of permanent disability. The COPCORD model is an effective tool in the determination of the prevalence of diseases. The objective of this study is to estimate the prevalence of rheumatic disease in a Colombian population over 18 years of age. MethodsA prevalence study was carried out using a probabilistic method of stratified random sampling in three stages: cartographic sectors in each city, selection of the blocks of each sector, and the households of each block. The COPCORD questionnaire adapted for Colombia was applied by standardized interviewers. Confirmation of the diagnosis was made by a rheumatologist with access to all the information. ResultsOut of a total of 6693 patients that completed the questionnaire, 64 were women. Pain not associated with trauma was reported by 48 of the participants. The most frequent locations were: knees 35, hands 26, lumbar spine 20, and shoulders 16. Non-specific skeletal muscle discomfort, osteoarthritis, regional appendicular syndrome, and non-inflammatory low back pain, were the most prevalent diseases. Rheumatoid arthritis and chronic inflammatory low back pain were the most common inflammatory conditions. The prevalence of Chikungunya fever was estimated at 6.68. ConclusionThe prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis in Colombia is higher than commonly reported, lower than for fibromyalgia and gout, and similar for osteoarthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus and spondyloarthritis. In Colombia these diseases are a public health problem without awareness of their impact on the general population.