Analysis of the course of rheumatoid arthritis depending on the climatic and geographic zones of Uzbekistan.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the features of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) as well as other health problems and treatment necessities in various climatic and geographic zones of Uzbekistan. The data on 2013 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of RA were collected retrospectively. The results showed that the Khorezm and Surkhandarya regions dominated by indicators of disease activity and severity, such as a more expressed progressive course; in addition, marked alterations in the reproductive system, especially in women, were observed as well. In contrast, patients from the Namangan and Tashkent zones were characterized by relatively better parameters of interest. In conclusion, the differences in climatic and geographic zones in Uzbekistan may be important for patients with RA. More in-depth studies are needed to get a more accurate insight into the possible influence of climate and environmental factors on RA.