RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: A high number of patients attending outpatient clinics of rheumatology are control cases. This study aimed at investigating the causes of such controls and how necessary they are. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 400 consecutive control patients selected from a local hospital were included. RESULTS: Inflammatory rheumatic diseases constituted 89% of the controls; rheumatoid arthritis was the diagnosis in 28% of cases. Routine control of patients with chronic disease was the main cause of control (41%). 15% of controls were regarded as partly or completely unnecessary; 95% of these were not repeated. INTERPRETATION: The reasons for controlling patients in rheumatology should be better defined. Regular evaluation could result in improved service to outpatients.