Rheumatoid arthritis in a population of persons aged 85 years and over.

A Dutch urban population of 977 persons aged 85 years and over was examined for the presence of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Prevalence rates for definite RA, past polyarthritis with joint deformation and past polyarthritis without joint deformation were 0.3%, 0.

The prevalence of morbidity in the oldest old, aged 85 and over: a population-based survey in Leiden, The Netherlands.

The Leiden 85-plus study has investigated the prevalence of morbidity in the total population of the Dutch community of Leiden (population 105 000) aged 85 and over, including both independently living and institutionalized elderly. The participation rate of 94% of all living elderly (n = 1037) and 78% of the initial cohort (n = 1259) was exceptionally high. Information was obtained on past and present diseases by taking a medical history.