Clinical and epidemiological characteristics of arthritis in rural elderlies from Cardenas, Tabasco, Mexico, 2012

Abstract

Introduction: the arthritis affects about the 80% of the elderlies and, in Cardenas, Tabasco, Mexico, are not studies about this topic; therefore, its essential characteristics are unknown. Objective: to identify clinical and epidemiological characteristics of arthritis in elderly users of a social security family medical unit from Cardenas, Tabasco, Mexico in 2012. Materials and methods: cross-sectional and descriptive study in a universe of 608 elderlies from which was taken a simple random sample of n=205 elderlies (p=0.28, Z=1.96, d=0.05) systematically sampled to intervals of k=3. We selected people of age major or equal to 60 years, of any gender, without cognitive impairment known neither amputations. We studied epidemiological and clinical variables. We obtained information from clinical files and anamnesis, and was analyzed with descriptive statistic using Epi Info 3,5,1. Results: we studied 205 elderlies, 60% females and 40% males, the mean age was 68.5 ± 7.4 years. 100% of them presented arthritis. The most frequent articulations affected were lumbar spine 64.90%, hip 47.80%, toes 31.20% and neck 22.90%. The most frequent arthritis type were chronic 95.10%, polyarticular 75.10% and nontraumatic 73.70%. The cause was not identified in 95%. The most frequent drug prescribed was naproxen in 29.80%. Conclusions: the arthritis prevalence in elderlies from this medical unit is higher than referred by other authors, without known causes. Therapeutic duplicity exists, which can produce adverse effects and must be corrected. MÉD.UIS. 2015;28(1):31-7.

Keywords: Aged. Arthralgia. Arthritis. Disabled persons. Cross-sectional studies.