Epidemiology of spondyloarthropathies in Central America

The authors reviewed retrospectively a cohort of 233 spondyloarthropathy patients observed in 2 centers in Guatemala City, Guatemala, and in hospitals in San Salvador, El Salvador, and San José, Costa Rica. Guatemalan patients were either from the clinic of Guatemalan Association against Rheumatic Diseases (n = 105) or from the private clinic of AGK (n = 78). El Salvador patients (n = 17) were from Hospital Instituto Salvadoreño del Seguro Social, and Costa Rican patients (n = 33) were from Hospital Calderón Guardia, San José, Costa Rica. Except for the Costa Rican data, which were published in 2007, the patients' medical records were analyzed using standardized questionnaires. Prevalence of spondyloarthropathy was slightly higher in females than males (57% versus 43%, respectively). The median age was 47.5 years. Most of our patients were diagnosed with reactive arthritis or undifferentiated arthritis (47% and 33%, respectively); 10% of patients had ankylosing spondylitis and 9% psoriatic arthritis.