Prevalence of the rheumatic diseases in urban Vietnam: a WHO-ILAR COPCORD study
Minh Hoa, T.Thi.; Darmawan, J.; Chen, S.Le.; Van Hung, N.; Thi Nhi, C.; Ngoc An, T.; Damarwan, J.; Shun Le, C.
Journal of Rheumatology 30(10): 2252-2256
2003
ISSN/ISBN: 0315-162X PMID: 14528525 Document Number: 552625
Objective: To determine the prevalence rates of musculoskeletal disorders in an urban Vietnamese population. Methods: The Community Oriented Program for Control of Rheumatic Disease (COPCORD) Stage I study was carried out in 16 groups in the Trung Liet Commune, Dong Da District, Hanoi City, Vietnam. Phase 1: the WHO ILAR COPCORD Core Questionnaire was applied by primary health care workers to 2119 urban subjects aged 16 years and over. Phase 2: 276 positive responders who had musculoskeletal complaints were interviewed by nurses and examined one week later. Phase 3: 261 positive responders in phase II were examined by 3 rheumatologists and 38% of these subjects required radiographic and blood tests to classify rheumatic disease categories. Results: The response rates were 94.4%, 86.2%, and 94.6% in phases 1, 2, and 3, respectively. The prevalence of musculoskeletal pain was 14.9%. The most common musculoskeletal complaints were knee pain 18.2%, low back pain 11.2%, and soft tissue disorder 15.4%. Functional disability was reported in 6.04% of the survey population. The prevalence of rheumatic diseases was OA 4.1%, rheumatoid arthritis 0.28%, osteoporosis 0.47%, connective tissue disease 0.09%, and gout 0.14%. Conclusion: The prevalence of musculoskeletal pain in 2119 adults in an urban population in Vietnam was 14.5%, and osteoarthritis was the most commonly found arthritis.