OBJECTIVE: To evaluate @entity1 presenting to healthcare facilities because of joint @entity158 and subsequently diagnosed with @entity309 . METHODS: The prospective study was conducted from August 1, 2013,to January 20, 2014, at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi, and comprised @entity1 presenting with joint @entity158 . A questionnaire was used to collect data, and @entity1 were diagnosed using American College of Rheumatology / European League Against @entity309 Criteria. Data was analyzed using SPSS 20. RESULTS: Of the 320 @entity1 approached, 316(98.7%) filled the questionnaire. Eighty five (26.9%) were diagnosed as @entity309 . Sixty (70.5%) were females and 25 (26.3%) were males. The frequency of @entity309 was higher in @entity1 in 4th, 5th and 6th decades of life. Twenty five (7.9%) @entity1 had positive family history, 77 (90.2%) were chronic sufferers and only 53 (16%) agreed to follow recommended immunosuppressive therapies. 212 (67.1%) @entity1 belonged to highly literate class. CONCLUSIONS: Proper guidance regarding the disease was found to be lacking in the urban centre.

Prevalence of XXXX in population with arthralgia presenting to a tertiary care hospital.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients', 'people'] @entity309 :: ('MESH:D001172', 'Disease') :: ['rheumatoid arthritis', 'Rheumatism Rheumatoid Arthritis Classification'] @entity158 :: ('MESH:D010146', 'Disease') :: ['pain']
@entity309 :: (MESH:D001172,Disease) :: ['rheumatoid arthritis']
