Detection of suspected XXXX with a new simple self-administered hand test.

@entity1 @entity32 @entity625 @entity571 @entity5144 @entity4841 @entity309
A self-administered hand test was used to screen 5262 @entity1 aged 40-70 living in a rural district in southern Sweden. It revealed evidence of hand impairment in 13%. The prevalence of @entity309 was 1.1%. At the screening procedure a subgroup of 48 previously unrecognized individuals with @entity32 was identified. They were assessed by a rheumatologist, who established the following diagnoses: four definite @entity309 , eight probable @entity309 , three @entity5144 , one unclassifiable @entity625 , 10 @entity571 and 22 non-specific @entity4841 . No advanced @entity309 was detected. Two were seropositive and another was erosive. One with @entity309 , one with @entity5144 and three with arthralgic symptoms were unable to work. Most had only a minor need for further medical aid. The test was thus able to identify @entity1 with hand impairment. Follow-up studies will address the practical implications of the screening procedure.
