急性风湿热的初次发作主要累及 5 至 14 岁儿童,30 岁以上罕见。全球有超过 240 万名儿童患有风湿性心脏病;其中 94% 位于发展中国家。全球每年新发的急性风湿热病例超过 330,000 例。复发性发作在青少年和年轻成年人中相对常见,但在 35 岁以上成年人中少见。[1]World Health Organization. Rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease: report of a WHO Expert Consultation. 2004 [internet publication].http://www.who.int/cardiovascular_diseases/publications/trs923/en/ 总体而言,据估计,2015 年有超过 3300 万人患有风湿性心脏病,每年造成 10,500,000 的伤残调整生命年损失,并导致 319,000 人死亡。[4]Watkins DA, Johnson CO, Colquhoun SM, et al. Global, regional, and national burden of rheumatic heart disease, 1990-2015. N Engl J Med. 2017 Aug 24;377(8):713-22.http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1603693#t=articlehttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28834488?tool=bestpractice.com
[Figure caption and citation for the preceding image starts]: 5-14 岁儿童风湿性心脏病的全球患病率Lancet Infect Dis. 2005 Nov; 5(11): 685-94;获准使用 [Citation ends].
受急性风湿热和风湿性心脏病影响最严重的是发展中国家居民和工业化国家经济贫困的原住民。[5]Carapetis JR, Steer AC, Mulholland EK, et al. The global burden of group A streptococcal diseases. Lancet Infect Dis. 2005 Nov;5(11):685-94.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16253886?tool=bestpractice.com 2015 年,风湿性心脏病患病率和年龄标准化死亡率最高的地区为大洋洲、南亚和撒哈拉以南非洲中部。[4]Watkins DA, Johnson CO, Colquhoun SM, et al. Global, regional, and national burden of rheumatic heart disease, 1990-2015. N Engl J Med. 2017 Aug 24;377(8):713-22.http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1603693#t=articlehttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28834488?tool=bestpractice.com 急性风湿热没有明显的性别差异,但风湿性心脏病往往在女性中更为常见。急性风湿热最常见于热带国家,没有季节差异。澳大利亚北部地区和太平洋地区的土著儿童(包括生活在美国和新西兰的儿童)的急性风湿热发病率最高。[6]Miyake CY, Gauvreau K, Tani LY, et al. Characteristics of children discharged from hospitals in the United States in 2000 with the diagnosis of acute rheumatic fever. Pediatrics. 2007 Sep;120(3):503-8.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17766522?tool=bestpractice.com[7]Milne RJ, Lennon DR, Stewart JM, et al. Incidence of acute rheumatic fever in New Zealand children and youth. J Paediatr Child Health. 2012 Aug;48(8):685-91.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22494483?tool=bestpractice.com
直到二十世纪上半叶,急性风湿热在包括美国在内的工业化国家都很常见,之后由于生活条件和卫生状况得到改善,减少了 A 族链球菌的传播,从而使风湿热发病率下降。[8]Quinn RW. Comprehensive review of morbidity and mortality trends for rheumatic fever, streptococcal disease, and scarlet fever: the decline of rheumatic fever. J Pediatr. 1994 Jan;124(1):9-16.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2690288?tool=bestpractice.com 在 20 世纪 80 年代,风湿热在美国某些山间地区卷土重来,推测与毒力强劲的 A 族链球菌的出现有关,该族链球菌属于血清型 M 1、3 和 18。[9]Veasy LG, Tani LY, Hill HR. Persistence of acute rheumatic fever in the intermountain area of the United States. J Pediatr. 1994 Jan;124(1):9-16.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7802743?tool=bestpractice.com[10]Veasy LG, Wiedmeier SE, Orsmond GS, et al. Resurgence of acute rheumatic fever in the intermountain area of the United States. N Engl J Med. 1987 Feb 19;316(8):421-7.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3807984?tool=bestpractice.com[11]Johnson DR, Stevens DL, Kaplan EL. Epidemiologic analysis of group A streptococcal serotypes associated with severe systemic infections, rheumatic fever, or uncomplicated pharyngitis. J Infect Dis. 1992 Aug;166(2):374-82.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1634809?tool=bestpractice.com 此外,抗生素使用模式的不断改变(尤其是在急性风湿热低发病率的国家,停止使用抗生素治疗 A 族链球菌性咽炎)也可能影响了 A 族链球菌病的流行病学。然而,在美国,急性风湿热的总发病率<1/100,000,且极为不常见,每 100,000 例儿科住院病例中方有 14.8 例急性风湿热。[6]Miyake CY, Gauvreau K, Tani LY, et al. Characteristics of children discharged from hospitals in the United States in 2000 with the diagnosis of acute rheumatic fever. Pediatrics. 2007 Sep;120(3):503-8.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17766522?tool=bestpractice.com