Rheumatoid Arthritis in Chad: Epidemiological, Clinical and Therapeutic Profile

Objective: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune inflammatory disease.Data from sub-Saharan Africa, particularly Central Africa, remain scarce and diagnosis is often delayed.This study aimed to describe the epidemiological, clinical, biological, radiological, therapeutic, and functional profile of RA in Chad and to situate these findings within the sub-Saharan and international literature.Methods: We conducted a retrospective descriptive study from January 2018 to December 2024 in the Rheumatology Department of the Hospital of the Refoundation of Chad.Patients fulfilling the 2010 ACR/EULAR classification criteria for RA and with complete medical records were included.Demographic, clinical, laboratory, radiographic, disease activity (DAS28), and quality-of-life data (SF-36, NHP) were collected, as well as treatments used and disease course.Results: Among 5000 rheumatology consultations, 211 patients had RA, representing 4.22% of visits.The mean age at diagnosis was 44.5 years (range 12 -90), and women accounted for 86.3% of cases.The mean diagnostic delay was 72.4 months (≈6.5 years).At presentation, polyarthritis (93.8%), symmetrical involvement (90.3%), deformities