Hand handicap and rheumatoid arthritis in a fish‐eating society (the Faroe Islands)

• Published in: Journal of Internal Medicine
• Main Authors: RECHT, L., HELIN, P., RASMUSSEN, J. O., JACOBSEN, J., LITHMAN, T., SCHERSTÉN, B.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 1990
• Subjects: Faroe Islands; Klaksvik; Faroes
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2796.1990.tb00118.x; https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2Fj.1365-2796.1990.tb00118.x; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1365-2796.1990.tb00118.x

Abstract. In the county of Klaksvik, the Faroes, a simple hand test was used for screening all inhabitants between the ages of 40 and 74 years. With its high sensitivity and specificity it revealed a diagnostic panorama entirely different from that seen in previous investigations in other nordic countries. In Klaksvik the prevalence of hand handicap was about 40%, which is due to the high incidence of osteoarthrosis. The prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis was 1.1%. The high functional capacity and the lower occurrence of rheumatic nodules and erosions found in the patients with rheumatoid arthritis as compared with previous studies suggest that the disease takes a milder course in Klaksvik. This should support the hypothesis that RA patients benefit from a diet rich in fish.