EXTENDED REPORT

Prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis in France: 2001

F Guillemin¹, A Saraux², P Guggenbuhl³, C H Roux⁴, P Fardellone⁵, E Le Bihan¹, A Cantagrel⁶, I Chary-Valckenaere⁷, L Euller-Ziegler⁴, R-M Flipo⁸, R Juvin⁹, J-M Behier¹⁰, B Fautrel¹¹, C Masson¹², J Coste¹³

¹ EA 3444, School of Public Health, Nancy, France
² Rheumatology, University Hospital, Brest, France
³ Rheumatology, University Hospital, Rennes, France
⁴ Rheumatology, University Hospital, Nice, France
⁵ Rheumatology, University Hospital, Amiens, France
⁶ Rheumatology, University Hospital, Toulouse, France
⁷ Rheumatology, University Hospital, Nancy, France
⁸ Rheumatology, University Hospital, Lille, France
⁹ Rheumatology, University Hospital, Grenoble, France
¹⁰ Pharmacia, France
¹¹ Rheumatology, Pitié-Salpétrière University Hospital, Paris, France
¹² Rheumatology, University Hospital, Angers, France
¹³ Biostatistics, Cochin University Hospital, Paris, France

Correspondence to:
Professor F Guillemin
EA 3444 School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine BP 184, University of Nancy 1, 54 05 Vandoeuvre-les-Nancy, France; francis.guillemin{at}medecine.uhp-nancy.fr

Background: Prevalence estimates of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) vary across Europe. Recent estimates in southern European countries showed a lower prevalence than in northern countries.

Objectives: To estimate the prevalence of RA in France in a multiregional representative sample in the year 2001.

Methods: A two stage random sample was constituted in seven areas (20 counties) from the national telephone directory of households and by the next birthday method in each household. Patient-interviewers, member of self help groups, were trained to administer telephone surveys using a validated questionnaire for case detection of inflammatory rheumatism, and conducted the survey under quality control. All suspected cases of RA were confirmed by their rheumatologist or by clinical examination. Prevalence estimates after probability sampling correction were standardised for age and sex (national census 1999).

Results: An average response rate of 64.7% (two stages combined) led to a total of 9395 respondents. Standardised prevalence was 0.31% (95% confidence interval 0.18 to 0.48) for RA, 0.51% in women and 0.09% in men, with a higher age-specific prevalence in the 65–74 year age band. A geographical analysis of county clustering showed significant variation across the country.

Conclusion: This national multiregional cooperative study demonstrates the usefulness of working in association with patients of self help groups. It showed a similar prevalence of RA to that of the spondyloarthropathies estimated concomitantly during the survey. It provides a reliable basis for definition of population targets for healthcare delivery and drug treatments.

Keywords: prevalence; rheumatoid arthritis; France; epidemiology; geographical variations

CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

Relevant Article

Prevalence of spondyloarthropathies in France: 2001

A Saraux, F Guillemin, P Guggenbuhl, C H Roux, P Fardellone, E Le Bihan, A Cantagrel, I Chary-Valckenaere, L Euller-Ziegler, R-M Flipo, R Juvin, J-M Behier, B Fautrel, C Masson, and J Coste
Ann Rheum Dis 2005 64: 1431-1435. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Sany, J., Cohen, J.-D., Combescure, C., Bozonnat, M.-C., Roch-Bras, F., Lafon, G., Daures, J.-P. (2009). Medico-economic evaluation of infliximab in rheumatoid arthritis--prospective French study of a cohort of 635 patients monitored for two years. Rheumatology (Oxford) 48: 1236-1241 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Baillet, A., Payraud, E., Niderprim, V.-A., Nissen, M. J., Allenet, B., Francois, P., Grange, L., Casez, P., Juvin, R., Gaudin, P. (2009). A dynamic exercise programme to improve patients' disability in rheumatoid arthritis: a prospective randomized controlled trial. Rheumatology (Oxford) 48: 410-415 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Clavel, G, Marchiol-Fournigault, C, Renault, G, Boissier, M-C, Fradelizi, D, Bessis, N (2008). Ultrasound and Doppler micro-imaging in a model of rheumatoid arthritis in mice. Ann Rheum Dis 67: 1765-1772 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Fautrel, B., Flipo, R. M., Saraux, A. (2008). Eligibility of rheumatoid arthritis patients for anti-TNF-{alpha} therapy according to the 2005 recommendations of the French and British Societies for Rheumatology. Rheumatology (Oxford) 47: 1698-1703 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Roux, C H, Saraux, A, Mazieres, B, Pouchot, J, Morvan, J, Fautrel, B, Testa, J, Fardellone, P, Rat, A C, Coste, J, Guillemin, F, Euller-Ziegler, L, on behalf of the KHOALA Osteoarthritis Group, (2008). Screening for hip and knee osteoarthritis in the general population: predictive value of a questionnaire and prevalence estimates. Ann Rheum Dis 67: 1406-1411 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Andrianakos, A., Trontzas, P., Christoyannis, F., Kaskani, E., Nikolia, Z., Tavaniotou, E., Georgountzos, A., Krachtis, P., for the ESORDIG study group, (2006). Prevalence and management of rheumatoid arthritis in the general population of Greece--the ESORDIG study. Rheumatology (Oxford) 45: 1549-1554 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Saraux, A, Guillemin, F, Guggenbuhl, P, Roux, C H, Fardellone, P, Le Bihan, E, Cantagrel, A, Chary-Valckenaere, I, Euller-Ziegler, L, Flipo, R-M, Juvin, R, Behier, J-M, Fautrel, B, Masson, C, Coste, J (2005). Prevalence of spondyloarthropathies in France: 2001. Ann Rheum Dis 64: 1431-1435 [Abstract] [Full Text]