RESEARCH - The prevalence and accuracy of self-reported history of 11 autoimmune diseases

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J Rheumatol. 2008 Sep 1. [Epub ahead of print]

The Prevalence and Accuracy of Self-Reported History of 11 Autoimmune Diseases.

GS, Wither J, McKenzie T, Claudio JO, Bernatsky S, Fortin PR.

From the United States Environmental Protection Agency, Washington,

DC, USA; Toronto Western Hospital Research Institute, University

Health Network, Toronto; Arthritis Centre of Excellence, University of

Toronto, Toronto; The Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute,

Toronto, Ontario; Division of Rheumatology and Division of Clinical

Epidemiology, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec; and

University of Toronto Lupus Clinic, Centre for Prognosis Studies in

the Rheumatic Diseases, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health

Network, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto,

Ontario, Canada.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence and confirmation rate of

autoimmune diseases reported by relatives of patients with lupus and

controls.

METHODS: Medical histories were obtained by self-report from 626

first-degree relatives of lupus patients and 267 population controls.

RESULTS: Of 178 reports of an autoimmune disease, 44% were confirmed

by medical records; excluding those whose medical records were

unavailable, the confirmation rate was 76%. The prevalence of at least

one confirmed autoimmune disease was 12% in lupus relatives and 2% in

controls.

CONCLUSION: Methods to improve the reliability of self-reported

autoimmune disease history could enhance population and clinic-based

research.

PMID: 18785310

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18785310

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