Rheumatic disease in a Philippine village II: WHO-ILAR-APLAR COPCORD Study. Phases II and III
2001
A survey of rheumatic complaints in a remote village area of the Philippines was carried out. In phase one a screening questionnaire identified 269 adults (comprising 131 males and 138 females) as having rheumatic symptoms out of 950 adults (comprising 482 males and 468 females) studied. In phase two, 234 (87%) of positive respondents were re-questioned using a more detailed proforma. This detailed proforma identified 196 adults with peripheral joint pains, 67 adults with neck pain and 137 adults with back pain. One third of adults attributed their symptoms to work and 127 adults had to stop work because of their complaints. Disability including an inability to carry loads affected 1.8% of the study population. It was observed that 82% of adults with rheumatic complaints still required help for their symptoms. In Phase three of this study, 166 adults with rheumatic symptoms were medically examined. Osteoarthritis of the knee was found in 25 adults and 17 adults had Heberden’s nodes. There were 16 adults with epicondylitis, 16 adults with rotator cuff pain and 35 adults were diagnosed as having levator scapulae insertion pain.