Evaluation of epidemiological, clinical and paraclinical data of Rheumatoid arthritis in Guinea: Registry year 2018 -...

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, destructive inflammatory rheumatic disease reported in populations of African origin. The aim of this study was to evaluate the epidemiological, clinical and paraclinical data of RA in Guinea with a registry from 2018 - 2022.

This was a longitudinal, retrospective study conducted in the rheumatology department of CHU Ignace Deen between January 2018 and December 2022. The diagnosis of RA was based on the ACR and EULAR 2010 criteria.

During the study period we collected 528 cases of RA out of 4213 observations (12.5%). There were 433 (82%) women with an average age of 47.3 years. The average number of painful joints was 8, ranging from 4 to 28, and the average number of swollen joints was 2 (ranging from 2 to 20). Rheumatoid factors were positive in 396 (75%) of cases, while anti-CCP antibodies were positive in 380 (72%) of patients. With DAS28, remission was noted in 53 (10%) of our patients, activity was low in 137 (26%) of cases, moderate in 259 (49%) and high in 79 (15%). Quality of life was assessed by the HAQ score, the mean value of which was 48 out of 60 (range 0 to 60).

Rheumatoid arthritis is the most common form of arthritis in Guinea. It mainly affects housewives, with significant functional repercussions.