A short communication on occurrence of rheumatic diseases attending hospital

A total of 4800 patients suffering from rheumatic diseases, attending Department of Physical Medicine, Burdwan Medical College Hospital, West Bengal, during the period from January 1991 to June 1991, were studied. Out of these 4800 cases, soft tissue rheumatism cases were maximum (57%), followed by osteo-arthrosis cases (36%), rheumatoid arthritis (5.2%), rheumatic arthritis (0.4%), ankylosing spondylitis (0.6%), osteo-chondrosis (0.7%) and gouty arthritis (0.1). Soft tissue rheumatism cases were common (62.8) in age group 20-40 years, mainly (58.4%) in female and maximum (37%) of lumbosacral strain. Osteo-arthrosis cases were highest (53.9%) in 40-60 years of age with female preponderance (57.2%) and mainly (49%) of cervical spondylosis.