Abstract
The prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis is difficult to define. Judging by the experience of general practitioners, at any one time approximately 0.5% of the population in the UK have widespread synovitis of sufficient severity to ask for medical advice. More than twice as many will develop disease during their life. Epidemiological studies have put the prevalence between 0.3% and 1.5%, (Wolfe 1968) but the disease may not be clinically significant in all cases. In other developed countries the prevalence is similar. Prevalence was found to be lower in rural than urban South African communities and may relate to living conditions (Solomon et al. 1975). There is a suggestion that the incidence has been falling recently (Linos et al. 1986). Seventy per cent of cases are female.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Currey HLF (1970) Osteoarthrosis of the hip joint and sexual activity. Ann Rheum Dis 29: 488 - 493
Currey HLF, Harris J (1971) Sex and the rheumatoid patient. In: Jayson M (ed) Total hip replacement. Sector Publishing, London, pp 144–148
Greengross W (1972) Marriage, sex and arthritis. Arthritis and Rheumatism Council
Greengross W (1976) Entitled to love. Malaby Press, London
Lawrence JS (1966) Geographical studies of rheumatoid arthritis. Ann Rheum Dis 25: 425
Linos A, Worthington JW, O’Fallon WM, Kurland LT (1980) The epidemiology of rheumatoid arthritis in Rochester, Minnesota. Am J Epidemiol 11: 87
Solomon L, Robin G, Valkenberg HA (1975) Rheumatoid arthritis in an urban South African Negro population. Ann Rheum Dis 34: 128
Wolfe AM (1968) The epidemiology of rheumatoid arthritis. Bull Rheum Dis 19: 518
Wood PHN (1971) Rheumatic complaints. Br Med Bull 27: 1
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1993 Springer-Verlag London Limited
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Benjamin, A., Helal, B., Copeland, S.A., Edwards, J.C.W. (1993). The Rheumatoid in Society. In: Surgical Repair and Reconstruction in Rheumatoid Disease. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-1942-5_18
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-1942-5_18
Publisher Name: Springer, London
Print ISBN: 978-1-4471-1944-9
Online ISBN: 978-1-4471-1942-5
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive