Page 18 - SPONDYLOARTHRITIS IN COLOMBIA -

Higher frequencies of peripheral involvement have been consistently observed in Latin America. In a cohort of Colombian patients, peripheral oligo-arthritis has been reported in a range of 65% to 76% and enthesitis in a range of 67% to 86%24. These findings are similar to those reported in
Mexico and Brazil: they found arthritis in 66% and enthesitis in 54% of the patients25. A rather low frequency of HLA-B27 positivity has been observed in SpA patients (about 40-45%)26, in contrast to data reported in Europe. Differences in the prevalence of HLA-B27 in the general population, which has a wide geographic and ethnic variation (≥75% of population in Colombia is mestizo27), may explain these discrepancies.
Colombia faces many challenges with regard to the research in the field of SpA. The estimated total population at 2016 was more than 48 million as reported by the National Administrative Department of Statistics (DANE). The National Rheumatology Association (Asoreuma) in Colombia reports 160 rheumatologist working in 18 cities across the country especially in large cities. This means that Colombia has a rate of one rheumatologist per 302.000 inhabitants, which is three times below the optimal provision of rheumatology health-care requirements as estimated by the British Society of Rheumatology28.
Numerically, the current workforce is insufficient to provide appropriate rheumatology care and workforce is critical in order to focus better on specific diseases such as SpA. This situation is similar to that in other countries of the continent, even though the rheumatology workforce has improved in LA during the last years29. Currently, five universities in Colombia provide training in rheumatology in conjunction with hospitals during a 2-years academic program.
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