The changing incidence of rheumatoid arthritis over time in north-west Greece: data from a referral centre
Authors' conclusion
Our findings suggest a decrease in the incidence of RA over 40 years in a geographically defined Greek population.
Study context
- Population
- Adults (>16 years) newly diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) (1987 ACR criteria) 1980–2019 at the referral university hospital of Ioannina, resident ≥1 year in a defined area of north-west Greece (population about 400,000)
- Participants
- 1,411 incident cases
- Outcome
- Age-adjusted annual incidence rate of RA
- Follow-up
- 1980–2019
Methodological detailssingle referral centre, 40-year observation period, age-adjusted incidence
- Single referral centre
- 40-year observation period
- Age-adjusted incidence
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Overall age-adjusted annual incidence rate of RA
- Total observation period (1980–2019), 95% CI 8.5-10.5
- 9.5
- 1980-1989, 95% CI 10.7-13.0
- 11.7
- 1990-1999, 95% CI 9.4-10.8
- 10.4
- 2000-2009, 95% CI 8.9-10.8
- 9.8
- 2010-2019, 95% CI 5.3-6.9
- 6.1
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Rheumatoid factor (RF)-positive incidence
- Constant decrease in RF-positive incidence for both sexes
Sex distribution of cases
- Women constituted a higher number than men (fold)
- 2.65
- Women had a lower mean age at diagnosis
Original publication
The changing incidence of rheumatoid arthritis over time in north-west Greece: data from a referral centre. Scand J Rheumatol. Published 12 May 2022. doi:10.
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