The prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis in middle-aged and elderly people living in Naqu City, Tibet, Autonomous Region of China

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in the Tibet Autonomous Region (China). METHODS: A population-based cross-sectional survey was conducted on 1458 residents of Luoma Town, Tibet Autonomous Region, who were aged ≥ 40 years old. We interviewed participants using questionnaires, and rheumatoid factor (RF), anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPA), and C-reactive protein (CRP) were determined. The identification of RA in this study was on the basis of criteria issued by the 2010 American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism (ACR/EULAR) guideline. RESULTS: Herein, 782 participants completed all items of RA. The overall prevalence of RA was 4.86%, and the prevalence was higher in women than that in men (7.14% vs. 2.56%, p = 0.005). The age-standardized prevalence of RA was 6.30% (95% confidence interval (CI) 4.20–8.64%), which was 2.46% (95% CI 1.04%, 4.10%) and 9.59% (95% CI 5.93%, 13.77%) in men and women, respectively. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of RA is relatively higher in the Tibet than that in other areas of China.