NEW HAVEN SURVEY OF JOINT DISEASES - INTERRELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN MORNING STIFFNESS NOCTURNAL PAIN AND SWELLING OF JOINTS

A short interview questionnaire relating to self diagnosis and symptoms of joint diseases was applied to a defined study population in New Haven, Connecticut. Of the 2388 people approached, 2199 (92.1 per cent) co-operated. In most body sites the prevalence of morning stiffness, nocturnal joint pain and swelling was higher in women than men. Moreover all three symptoms were more likely to be experienced in several body sites in women compared to men. People who said they had arthritis were most often those who also complained of morning stiffness; self diagnosis of rheumatism was in general most frequently associated with nocturnal joint pain. Gout is associated with pain and swelling of the feet. At all ages and in both sexes arthritis and rheumatism were self diagnosed more frequently in New Haven than in the National Health Survey. It is assumed that this is because in New Haven, but not in the National Health Survey, a symptom review was included early in the questionnaire. © 1969.