Abida Farooqi|T. Gibson
Prevalence of the major rheumatic disorders in the adult population of north Pakistan
Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences
prevalence rheumatic diseases developing countries largely unknown studies allow comparison data within contrasting communities third world developed world potential provide insights disease aetiologies current study compared frequency rheumatic symptoms point prevalence amongst 1997 adults distributed evenly poor rural poor urban communities relatively affluent urban people comparisons also made similarly previously derived prevalence rates rheumatic symptoms rheumatoid arthritis ra south pakistan pakistanis england significantly higher prevalence joint pain seen north compared south ra common north similar frequency amongst pakistanis resident england ethnic genetic susceptibility might accounted significantly softtissue rheumatism back pain northern rural population compared city fibromyalgia almost completely absent urban affluent osteoarthritis knee significantly common community perhaps due relative obesity ra least urban poor phenomenon might attributable earlier death females undetermined factors