Prevalence and clinical characteristics of rheumatoid arthritis in Poland: a nationwide study

• Main Authors: Bogdan Batko, Marcin Stajszczyk, Jerzy Świerkot, Karol Urbański, Filip Raciborski, Mariusz Jędrzejewski, Piotr Wiland
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Termedia Publishing House 2017-12-01
• Series: Archives of Medical Science
• Subjects: rheumatoid arthritis; disease activity; epidemiology; disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs
• Online Access: https://www.termedia.pl/Prevalence-and-clinical-characteristics-of-rheumatoid-arthritis-in-Poland-a-nationwide-study,19,30986,1,1.html

Introduction : There are no reliable data regarding the prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in Poland. Material and methods : The first stage was a face-to-face survey on a nationwide representative sample of 3000 people, which identified respondents with a physician-confirmed diagnosis of RA. The second stage was a survey of RA patients, which characterized the disease course and treatment. It was evaluated by analysis of a representative group of 1957 RA patients in routine clinical practice. Results : The overall RA prevalence in Poland was 0.9% (95% CI: 0.6–1.2%), 1.06% for women, 0.74% for men. 78% were female, mean age was 56 and mean disease duration 7 years. Younger patients ( 5.1). Presently, low disease activity (DAS-28<3.2) was found in 38,5% of patients. In Poland, 94% of patients have been treated with non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs, almost 80% with glucocorticoids. Meanwhile, methotrexate, as an anchor drug in Poland, has been used by 80% of patients, biological agents by 2.94% of patients. Conclusions : This is the first cross-sectional population-based epidemiological study regarding prevalence of RA in the adult Polish population. The results demonstrate a high prevalence, falling within the upper boundary estimates for Europe. Despite ongoing treatment, the majority still have moderate to high disease activity, and the use of biological therapies is low.