Posted by MERM on 6/21/2008, 11:18 am
1/ prevalence and characteristics of fibromyalgia in the general population
OBJECTIVE. To determine the prevalence and characteristics of fibromyalgia in the general population.
METHODS. A random sample of 3,006 persons in Wichita, KS, were characterized according to the presence of no pain, non-widespread pain, and widespread pain. A subsample of 391 persons, including 193 with widespread pain, were examined and interviewed in detail.
RESULTS. The prevalence of fibromyalgia was 2.0% (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.4, 2.7) for both sexes, 3.4% (95% CI 2.3, 4.6) for women, and 0.5% (95% CI 0.0, 1.0) for men. The prevalence of the syndrome increased with age, with highest values attained between 60 and 79 years (> 7.0% in women). Demographic, psychological, dolorimetry, and symptom factors were associated with fibromyalgia.
CONCLUSION. Fibromyalgia is common in the population, and occurs often in older persons. Characteristic features of fibromyalgia--pain threshold and symptoms--are similar in community and clinic populations, but overall severity, pain, and functional disability are more severe in the clinic population.
2/Prevalence of primary and secondary fibrositis
Of 1,473 consecutive new patients seen in an outpatient rheumatology clinic,
3.7% met criteria for "primary fibrositis."
Secondary fibrositis was diagnosed in 12.2% of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA),
15.7% of patients with primary neck and back pain syndromes and
6.7% of patients with osteoarthritis (OA).
When conditions presumed to be associated with secondary fibrositis were excluded, primary fibrositis was identified in 55 of 405 patients or 13.6%.
Two hundred fifteen or 14.6% of all patients had either primary or secondary fibrositis.
**Fibrositis may be the most common disorder seen in rheumatic disease practice after OA and RA.~m~
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