"Epidemiology of Rheumatic Diseases 2e" summarizes all the available data on the occurrence and risk factors for the major epidemiological, musculoskeletal, connective tissue and bone disorders. The aim is to provide a comprehensive overview of published data world-wide, and include such aspects as temporal and geographical trends in disease, contribution of genetic, constitutional and environmental factors to disease occurrence, as well as the influence of traditional epidemiological risk factors, such as age and gender. The available data is critically appraised to provide the reader with some information as to the relative robustness of the published material. Since the first edition was published in 1993, there have been major advances in all the subject areas covered in the book. As a consequence, much of the original material is now out of date and the book has been extensively re-written. Additional chapters have been added on systemic vasculitis and Paget's disease and much more attention has been given to neck and upper limb pain disorders, as well as chronic widespread pain and fibromyalgia. In addition, a new chapter has been provided reviewing population studies as a whole of musculoskeletal morbidity. The authors have also taken the opportunity to completely rewrite the section on genetics taking advantage of the tremendous advances in this area.