[Rheumatism in the Russian Federation: statistic and reality]

According to the 1994 governmental statistics, 481353 patients with rheumatism (3.25 per 1,000 persons of all age groups) were notified in the Russian Federation. The prevalence of active rheumatism was 0.29%, that of chronic rheumatic heart disease was 2.96%. Among Russia's children, the spread of rheumatism was 0.8 per 1,000 children, the diagnosis of active rheumatism and chronic heart rheumatic diseases being made in 10,068 (31%) and 16,405 (0.5%) children. That of active rheumatism was first established in 12071 persons. Therefore, in 1994 primary incidence of acute rheumatic fever was 0.08 per 1,000 inhabitants of all ages and 0.18 per 1,000 children. The incidence rates of acute rheumatism among children and adolescents annually increased by 62%. This rise was solely due to the North-Caucasian region of the Russian Federation where the pediatric morbidity was 0.92%. The statistical findings are regarded as an alarming signal for the likelihood of acute rheumatic fever in the Russian Federation.