Association of regional and cultural factors with the prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis in the Mexican population: a multilevel analysis.

Background: The overall estimated prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in Mexico is 1.6%, but there are major variations in different geographic areas of the country.

Objective: This study aimed to determine the impact of individual and regional variables on the geographic distribution of RA in Mexico.

Methods: This multilevel analysis used data from a cross-sectional study that investigated the prevalence of RA among 19,213 individuals older than 18 years throughout 5 geographic regions in Mexico. Logistic regression models were used to determine predictors of RA, including individual and regional variables as well as cultural factors. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were determined.

Results: The prevalence of RA varied from 0.77% to 2.8% across the 5 regions. Individual factors associated with RA were sex (OR, 2.32; 95% CI, 1.74-3.07), previous medical diagnosis of RA ( OR 3.3, 95%CI: 2919–5.1 [corrected]), disability (OR, 2.07; 95% CI, 1.48-2.93), and the 56- to 65-year age group (OR, 1.95; 95% CI, 1.08-3.74). The regional factor of speaking an indigenous language had an OR of 2.27 (95% CI, 1.13-4.55).

Conclusions: Various individual and regional factors were associated with variations in the prevalence of RA in the Mexican population.