OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence and management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in the general adult population of Greece.
METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted on the total adult population (> or =19 yrs old) of seven communities (8,547 subjects), and on 2,100 out of 5,686 randomly selected subjects in two additional communities. The study, based on a standardized questionnaire and clinical evaluation and laboratory investigation when necessary, was carried out by rheumatologists who visited the target population at their homes. Diagnosis of RA was based on the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) 1987 criteria.
RESULTS: A total of 8,740 subjects participated (response rate 82.1%). RA was diagnosed in 59 individuals. The prevalence of RA was 0.68% (95% CI 0.51-0.85); it was significantly higher in females than males (P