Table 4

Results of comparative cross cultural studies

Author, year [ref]	Populations compared	Patients/place	Disease variables compared	Results
MS, morning stiffness; RAI, Ritchie articular index; EAM, extra-articular manifestations; HAQ, Health Assessment Questionnaire; GS, grip strength.
Hameed K, 1996 [15]	British-Pakistani	176 Matched patients/centre based	MS, joint count, RAI, EAM, HAQ, laboratory measures, x ray scores	British had worsex-ray damage and more nodules. Pakistani had worse scores for MS, RAI, HAQ and laboratory measures.
Drosos AA, 1992 [9]	British-Greek	215 Consecutive patients/centre based	MS, joint count, GS, EAM, x ray stage, laboratory measures	British had worse scores in all clinical measures except for sicca symptoms.
Veerapen K, 1993 [17]	British-Malaysian	140 Consecutive matched cases/centre based	MS, joint count, EAM, x ray damage, laboratory measures	British had more severe disease in feet and higher prevalence of EAM; other variables were similar.
Chinkanza IC, 1994 [18]	British-Zimbabwean	168 Consecutive matched patients/centre based	MS, joint count (swollen, deformed), GS, EAM, x ray damage, laboratory measures	British had worse disease judged clinically and radiographically with fewer EAM.
Adebajo AO, 1991 [19]	British-Nigerian	Consecutive patients/centre based	Joint count, EAM, x ray damage, laboratory measures	British had more severe disease and higher prevalence of EAM.
Abdel-Nasser AM, 1996 [20]	Egyptian-Dutch	200 consecutive patients/centre based	Activity, disability indices, x ray stage, comorbidities, EAM	Egyptian had higher disease activity; more pronounced pain and limitation of activities of daily living.