The epidemiology of rheumatic disease in a rural and an urban population over the age of 65 years.

The prevalence of rheumatic disease in subjects over 65 years of age was measured in a rural and an urban population in the Western Cape by means of a questionnaire and a clinical/radiological investigation. The completion rates were 88% and 85% for the rural and the urban groups respectively. Recall of previous arthritis/backache and shoulder pain/shoulder disease and osteo-arthrosis was more frequent in the urban population, and osteoporosis occurred with equal frequency in both populations. The relevance of these findings is discussed in terms of their actual and potential impact on the treatment of elderly persons.