Rheumatic Diseases in Yemen

Rheumatic diseases represent a growing global health challenge, yet data from conflict-affected countries such as Yemen remain extremely limited. This chapter provides the most comprehensive overview to date of the rheumatology landscape in Yemen, drawing on available literature, unpublished clinical data, and expert insights. Yemen’s prolonged conflict has severely weakened the health system, resulting in critical shortages of rheumatologists, limited diagnostic capacity, inadequate access to essential medications, and the absence of national registries or coordinated care pathways. Pediatric and adult rheumatic disease patterns from existing clinical reports highlight a predominance of rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus, high rates of misdiagnosis, and delays in referral, particularly in rural regions. Diagnostic services remain constrained by limited autoantibody testing, imaging capacity, biopsies, and a reliance on paper-based records. Additional country-specific risk factors, including widespread consanguinity, smoking, khat chewing, infections, and low socioeconomic status, likely exacerbate disease burden. The chapter concludes by outlining key opportunities for strengthening rheumatology services through workforce development, improved diagnostics, tele-rheumatology, national registry establishment, and regional collaboration. Together, these actions are essential to improving outcomes and reducing disability among Yemenis living with rheumatic diseases.