Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Arthritis in an early 20th century geriatric population

  • Published:
AGE Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Bone and joint alterations were characterized in the skeletons of 498 individuals age 64+ who died in Northeast Ohio between 1913 and 1933. Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis, rare in young individuals, was found in 27% of men over age 65, compared with only 5% of women (Chi square = 21.1, p<0.0005), independent of race. Osteoarthritis was present in 41% of Blacks but only 24% of Caucasians (Chi square = 11.3, p<0.001), independent of sex. Rheumatoid arthritis was present in 4.4% of women and 0.7% of men (Chi square = 7.32, p<0.008), independent of race. This 6:1 ratio contrasted with the 3:1 ratio among individuals <65. Spondyloarthropathy was equally represented in all groups. Calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease, equally represented by race and sex, increased logarithmically with age. This unique population survey provides new insights to rheumatologic impact on aging and should facilitate health care planning.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Yelin, E.H., and Katz, P.P.: Transitions in health status among community dwelling elderly people with arthritis. A national longitudinal study. Arthritis Rheum., 33: 1205–1215, 1990.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Rothschild, B.M., and Woods, R.J.: Spondyloarthropathy: Erosive arthritis in representative defleshed bones. Amer. J. Physical Anthropol. (in press).

  3. Rothschild, B.M., and Woods, R.J.: Rheumatoid arthritis “in the buff”: Erosive arthritis in representative defleshed bones. Amer. J. Physical Anthropol., 82: 441–449, 1990.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Rothschild, B.M., Turner, K.R., and DeLuca, M.A.: Symmetrical erosive peripheral polyarthritis in the late archaic period of Alabama. Science, 241: 1498–1502, 1988.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Woods, R.J., and Rothschild, B.M.: Population analysis of symmetrical erosive arthritis in Ohio Woodland Indians (1200 years before the present time). J. Rheumatol., 15: 1258–1263, 1988.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Markel, S.F., and Hart, W.R.: Arthropathy in calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate crystal deposition disease. Arch. Pathol., 106: 529–533, 1982.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Katz, W.A.: Diagnosis and Management of Rheumatic Disease. Philadelphia, Lippincott, 2nd edition, 1989.

    Google Scholar 

  8. McCarty, D.J.: Arthritis and Allied Conditions, 11th edition. Philadelphia, Lea and Febiger, 1989.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Corrigan, A.B., Robinson, R.G., Terenty, T.R., Dick-Smith, J.B., and Waiters, D.: Benign rheumatoid arthritis of the aged. Brit. Med. J., 2: 444–446, 1974.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Ehrlich, G.E., Katz, W.A., and Cohen, S.H.: Rheumatoid arthritis in the aged. Geriat., 25: 103–113, 1970.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Rothschild, B.M.: Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis: Misconceptions and reality. Clin. Rheum., 4: 207–212, 1985.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Mensforth, R.P., and Latimer, B.M.: Hamann-Todd Collection aging studies: Osteoporosis fracture-syndrome. Amer. J. Physical Anthropol., 80: 461–479, 1989.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Masi, A.T., and Medsger, T.A., Jr.: Epidemiology of the rheumatic diseases, in Arthritis and Allied Conditions, edited by McCarty, D.J., 10th Ed., Philadelphia, Lea and Febiger, pp. 16–54, 1989.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Ropes, M.W., Bennett, G.A., and Cobb, S.: 1958 Revision of diagnostic criteria for rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis Rheum., 2: 126–130, 1959.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Resnick, D., and Niwayama, G.: Diagnosis of Bone and Joint Disorders, 2nd edition. Philadelphia, Saunders, 1988.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Rothschild, B.M.: Rheumatology: A Primary Care Approach. New York, Yorke Medical Press, 1982.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Genant, H.K.: Roentgenographic aspects of calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate crystal deposition disease (pseudogout). Arthritis Rheum., 19: 307–328, 1976.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Resnick, D., and Pineda, C.: Vertebral involvement in calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate crystal deposition disease. Radiology, 153: 55–60, 1984.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Yosipovitch, Z.H., and Glimcher, M.J.: Articular chondrocalcinosis, hydroxyapatite deposition disease, in adult mature rabbits. J. Bone Jt. Surg., 54A: 841–853, 1972.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Forestier, J., and Rotes Querol, J.: Senile ankylosing hyperostosis of the spine. Ann. Rheumatic Dis., 9: 321–330, 1950.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Rothschild, B.M.: Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis as reflected in the paleontologic record: Dinosaurs and early mammals. Semin. Arthritis Rheum., 27: 119–125, 1987.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Rothschild, B.M., and Berman, D.: Fusion of caudal vertebrae in late Jurassic sauropods. J. Vert. Paleontol. (in press).

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Arthritis Center of Northeast Ohio, Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine, Youngstown, OH, 44512

    Bruce M. Rothschild

  2. Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210

    Robert J. Woods

Authors
  1. Bruce M. Rothschild
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Robert J. Woods
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

About this article

Cite this article

Rothschild, B.M., Woods, R.J. Arthritis in an early 20th century geriatric population. AGE 14, 17–19 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02434843

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02434843

Keywords

Search

Navigation