PREVALENCE OF RHEUMATOID-ARTHRITIS IN BELGRADE, YUGOSLAVIA

Objective. To determine the prevalence of chronic arthritis with speci al reference to rheumatoid arthritis. Method. A cross-sectional study was performed during the years 1990 and 1991 in a randomly selected sa mple of the urban population of Belgrade. Results. Out of 2184 partici pants, greater than or equal to 20 yr old, surveyed by questionnaire, 756 (34.6%) reported peripheral joint complaints. Of those with compla ints, 621 (82.1%) agreed to undergo detailed examination. Arthritis wa s diagnosed in four men (one had rheumatoid arthritis and three had sp ondylarthropathy with peripheral arthritis) and 11 women (three had rh eumatoid arthritis, one had B27-positive polyarthritis and seven had u ndifferentiated chronic arthritis). The prevalence of chronic arthriti s in the adult population was 0.69% (0.35% for men and 1.05% for women ). The prevalence for rheumatoid arthritis was 0.18% (0.09% for men an d 0.29% for women). Re-examination of 15 individuals with chronic arth ritis 3 yr later showed changes in diagnosis only in those patients wh o at baseline examination had undifferentiated chronic arthritis. Conc lusion. According to the results obtained, the urban population of Bel grade is among populations with a low prevalence of rheumatoid arthrit is.