Rheumatoid arthritis: A single-center Egyptian experience

Area of Science:

• Rheumatology
• Epidemiology
• Clinical Medicine

Background:

• Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease affecting joints.
• Understanding RA characteristics in diverse populations is crucial for targeted treatment.
• Egyptian RA patient data provides insights into disease patterns in the region.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in a large Egyptian cohort.
• To analyze trends in RA presentation and disease features over two decades.
• To identify changes in diagnosis and disease control among Egyptian RA patients.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 3219 RA patients' data.
• Data collected from Rheumatology outpatient clinic, Kasr Alainy Hospital, Cairo University.
• Study period: January 1995 to December 2015.

Main Results:

• Mean age at onset: 36.1 years; 84% female; mean disease duration: 12.9 years.
• Predominant onset pattern: polyarticular (77.1%) with combined small and large joint involvement (83.2%).
• Lower rates of extra-articular manifestations (e.g., subcutaneous nodules 14.2%, ILD 0.3%) and erosive disease (20.6%) observed over time, with increased awareness and earlier diagnosis.

Conclusions:

• Egyptian RA patients exhibit female predominance and younger age at onset.
• A decline in extra-articular manifestations and erosive disease suggests improved diagnosis and management.
• Changing referral patterns and earlier detection contribute to better disease control in RA patients.