RESUMEN Objetivo: Calcular la prevalencia y describir las principales características demográficas de la artritis reumatoide en adultos en Colombia. Materiales y métodos: Estudio descriptivo de corte transversal en el que se tomaron los datos del Sistema Integral de Información de la Protección Social del Ministerio de Salud, durante los arios 2012-2016. Resultados: Se identificaron 248.995 casos, lo que permite calcular una prevalencia en mayores de 18 años del 0,52%, de los cuales el 80,7% son mujeres, con una relación mujer: hombre de 4,2: 1, con mayor prevalencia entre el grupo etario de 70 a 74 años. Los departamentos con mayor número de casos son Bogotá D.C. (64.121), seguido de Antioquia (43.771); sin embargo, los departamentos con mayor prevalencia fueron Cesar (1,13%), Casanare (0,96%) y Risaralda (0,93%). Conclusiones: Se presenta información demográfica y epidemiológica de artritis reumatoide en Colombia. Se documentó una prevalencia concordante con datos de la región, similar a Brasil (0,46%), Venezuela (0,4%) y Perú (0,55%), menor que Argentina (0,94%) y México (1,6%).
ABSTRACT Objective: To estimate the prevalence and describe the main demographic characteristics of rheumatoid arthritis in adults in Colombia. Material and methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted using the data taken from the Integral Information System of Social Protection of the Ministry of Health during the years 2012-2016. Results: A total of 248,995 cases were identified, which gave an estimated prevalence of 0.52% in those older than 18 years of age. The large majority (80.7% were women, with a female: male ratio of 4.2:1, and there was a higher prevalence in the 70-74 years age group. The departments with the highest number of cases were Bogota DC (64,121), followed by Antioquia (43,771), but the departments with the highest prevalence were Cesar (1.13%), Casanare (0.96%), and Risaralda (0.93%). Conclusions: Demographic and epidemiological information on rheumatoid arthritis in Colombia is presented. A similar prevalence is reported in other studies from the region, like Brazil (0.46%), Venezuela (0.4%), or Peru (0.55%), but lower than Argentina (0.94%) or Mexico (1.6%).