There were summarized the data concerning epidemiology of the main rheumatic diseases. The data about changes of structure of rheumatic diseases for 18-year-period (1983–2001) were studied. The quantity of patients with rheumatism decreased, but quantity of patients with rheumatic joint diseases (osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, reactive arthritis) and systemic diseases of connective tissue (systemic lupus erythematosus, systemic sclerosis) increased.
