Abstract
ObjectiveTo estimate the prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in the Tibet Autonomous Region (China).MethodsA population-based cross-sectional survey was conducted on 1458 residents of Luoma Town, Tibet Autonomous Region, who were aged ≥ 40 years old. We interviewed participants using questionnaires, and rheumatoid factor (RF), anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPA), and C-reactive protein (CRP) were determined. The identification of RA in this study was on the basis of criteria issued by the 2010 American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism (ACR/EULAR) guideline.ResultsHerein, 782 participants completed all items of RA. The overall prevalence of RA was 4.86%, and the prevalence was higher in women than that in men (7.14% vs. 2.56%, p = 0.005). The age-standardized prevalence of RA was 6.30% (95% confidence interval (CI) 4.20–8.64%), which was 2.46% (95% CI 1.04%, 4.10%) and 9.59% (95% CI 5.93%, 13.77%) in men and women, respectively.ConclusionThe prevalence of RA is relatively higher in the Tibet than that in other areas of China.
Highlights
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic systematic autoimmune inflammatory disease characterized by a symmetrical inflammatory polyarthritis of the joints of the hands, wrist, feet, and knee, which may result in joint swelling, pain, stiffness, and possible loss of function [1]
782 participants completed all items of RA and attended in laboratory tests (Fig. 1)
There was no significant difference between participants who took blood samples and those who refused to take blood samples, except for age-relevant characteristics
Summary
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic systematic autoimmune inflammatory disease characterized by a symmetrical inflammatory polyarthritis of the joints of the hands, wrist, feet, and knee, which may result in joint swelling, pain, stiffness, and possible loss of function [1]. In China, the first epidemiological study on RA was not reported until 1983, with a prevalence of 0.3% in Taiwan [5]. Several epidemiological researches conducted across China mainland were published, and it was shown that the prevalence of RA ranges from 0.2 to 0.93% in China [6]. There are few concerns about the prevalence of RA in Western China, especially Tibet. Conducting further study is essential and urgent with the aim of describing the prevalence of RA in Tibet area
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