A Study of Rheumatic Disease in a Canadian Indian Population

Abstract

During the course of an epidemiological survey into the prevalence of rheumatoid disease among the Haida Indians, a search was made for cases of Marie-Strumpell spondylitis. Clinical, radiological, and serological screening studies were employed. Ten men with unequivocal Marie-Strtimpell spondylitis were discovered in a population of 436 adult respondents of whom 238 were males, representing a prevalence of 4.2% in the adult male population or 2.3% in the combined male and female population. This finding, is in marked contrast to much smaller prevalences reported from other studies. Most cases were found among the older age groups. This may reflect the relative insensitivity of the screening procedures for minimal disease in younger adults or may be significant for reasons yet unexplained.