Rheumatology in Iran.

Area of Science:

• Rheumatology
• Epidemiology
• Public Health

Background:

• The development of rheumatology in Iran began in the 1960s, with the establishment of the Iranian Rheumatology Society in 1973.
• Academic rheumatology training programs were initiated in Tehran, Shiraz, and Mashhad universities.
• The subspecialty Board of Rheumatology was created in 1985, leading to the expansion of rheumatology sections across 37 medical universities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a historical overview of the development of rheumatology in Iran.
• To present the prevalence and patterns of musculoskeletal complaints in the Iranian population.
• To analyze the distribution of mechanical and inflammatory rheumatic diseases.

Main Methods:

• Historical review of rheumatology education and professional society development in Iran.
• Analysis of epidemiological data on musculoskeletal complaints in urban and rural populations.
• Comparison of disease prevalence across different ethnicities and genders.

Main Results:

• Musculoskeletal complaints affect 41.9% in urban and 66.6% in rural areas, with higher prevalence in Turkish ethnicities compared to Caucasians.
• Women report higher rates of complaints than men in both urban and rural settings.
• The most common complaints include knee pain, dorsolumbar spine issues, and osteoarthritis, while inflammatory conditions like rheumatoid arthritis are less prevalent.

Conclusions:

• Rheumatology in Iran has experienced substantial growth in training and practice since the 1960s.
• Musculoskeletal conditions represent a significant health burden in Iran, with distinct demographic and geographic variations.
• Further research into specific rheumatic diseases and targeted public health interventions are warranted.