To depict the spectrum of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in Egypt in relation to other universal studies to provide broad-based characteristics to this particular population. This work included 10,364 adult RA patients from 26 specialized Egyptian rheumatology centers representing 22 major cities all over the country. The demographic and clinical features as well as therapeutic data were assessed. The mean age of the patients was 44.8 ± 11.7 years, disease duration 6.4 ± 6 years, and age at onset 38.4 ± 11.6 years; 209 (2%) were juvenile-onset. They were 8750 females and 1614 males (F:M 5.4:1). 8% were diabetic and 11.5% hypertensive. Their disease activity score (DAS28) was 4.4 ± 1.4 and health assessment questionnaire (HAQ) 0.95 ± 0.64. The rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) were positive in 73.7% and 66.7% respectively. Methotrexate was the most used treatment (78%) followed by hydroxychloroquine (73.7%) and steroids (71.3%). Biologic therapy was received by 11.6% with a significantly higher frequency by males vs females (15.7% vs 10.9%, p = 0.001). The least age at onset, F:M, RF and anti-CCP positivity were present in Upper Egypt (p < 0.0001), while the highest DAS28 was reported in Canal cities and Sinai (p < 0.0001). The HAQ was significantly increased in Upper Egypt with the least disability in Canal cities and Sinai (p = 0.001). Biologic therapy intake was higher in Lower Egypt followed by the Capital (p < 0.0001). The spectrum of RA phenotype in Egypt is variable across the country with an increasing shift in the F:M ratio. The age at onset was lower than in other countries.© 2023. The Author(s).
About The Expert
Tamer A Gheita
Hala A Raafat
Samah A El-Bakry
Ahmed Elsaman
Hanan M El-Saadany
Nevin Hammam
Iman I El-Gazzar
Nermeen Samy
Nora Y Elsaid
Suzan S Al-Adle
Samar Tharwat
Amira M Ibrahim
Samar M Fawzy
Nahla N Eesa
Rawhya El Shereef
Faten Ismail
Mervat I Abd Elazeem
Enas A Abdelaleem
Amany El-Bahnasawy
Zahraa I Selim
Nada M Gamal
Maha Nassr
Samah I Nasef
Abdel Hafeez Moshrif
Shereen Elwan
Yousra H Abdel-Fattah
Marwa A Amer
Doaa Mosad
Eman F Mohamed
Dina F El-Essawi
Hanan Taha
Mohamed N Salem
Rasha M Fawzy
Maha E Ibrahim
Asmaa Khalifa
Nouran M Abaza
Ahmed M Abdalla
Amany R El-Najjar
Noha A Azab
Hanan M Fathi
Khaled El-Hadidi
Tahsin El-Hadidi
References
PubMed
×
Advertisement