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Spondylarthritis prevalence in Mexicans similar to other study data
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The prevalence and sex distribution of Mexicans with spondylarthritis was relatively consistent with results of other epidemiologic studies, according to recent survey data.
Starting in 2009, researchers in Mexico conducted a community-based, door-to-door survey of 4,059 people (mean age, 44.6 years; 68.8% women) in an urban population identified by the American British Cowdry Medical Center in a 2005 census. Trained nurses screened respondents for individuals who experienced nontraumatic back pain (BP) during the last 7 days or anytime in the past.
General practitioners and rheumatology fellows then used Berlin criteria to determine individuals who were likely to have inflammatory BP (IBP). Patients with suspected IBP were reassessed by two expert rheumatologists to confirm IBP according to modified Berlin entry criteria and at least one IBP parameter. Rheumatologists requested HLA-B27 (polymerase chain reaction oligotyping) and radiographic studies to determine patients’ clinical condition and evidence of spondylarthritis (SpA).
Based on the Community Oriented Program for the Control of Rheumatic Diseases criteria, BP prevalence was 14.6% (95% CI, 13.6-15.8). IBP and SpA were determined in 1.3% (95% CI, 1.0-1.7) and 0.6% (95% CI, 0.4-0.9) of individuals, respectively, with percentages being similar among men and women. Ankylosing spondylitis prevalence was 0.09% (95% CI, 0.02-0.2). The two rheumatologists determined there was a lower percentage of individuals with IBP, compared with diagnoses made by the general practitioners and rheumatology fellows.
SpA prevalence in Mexico was slightly greater than that reported in studies in Sweden, France, Greece and China (Han population) and similar to that reported in Lithuania. It also was similar to previous findings among Mexican Americans in the United States, according to Amor criteria but less than half when European SpA Study Group criteria were applied, the researchers said.
“In our experience, the role of experts in each step resulted in a more careful assessment of classification criteria,” the researchers concluded.
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