Epidemiology of the Rheumatic Diseases

This book presents an extended critical review of available data concerning the epidemiology of the major rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases. It covers details of disease occurrence, demographic factors, genetic and environmental risk factors, and consideration of prognosis, particularly in relation to survival.

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This major reference work is the first comprehensive text to review in detail the data currently available on the epidemiology of the main rheumatic and musco-skeletal diseases. The problems of disease definition and criteria are considered with data on the occurrence of these diseases, both prevalence and incidence, and their variation with age, sex, geographical area, ethnic group, and trends over time. The results of epidemiological investigations,looking at both genetic and environmental risk factors, are considered and the impact of specific diseases of survival is also considered. Covering 15 disease areas from inflammatory joint disease and connective tissue disease to degenerative joint disease and non-articular conditions, such as low back pain and carpel tunnel syndrome, this is the only text available which offers full coverage of the subject with a truly international perspective.