Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

LIVE: Thursday 27th June 2024, 18:00-19:30 (CEST)
Join our expert panel to discover why you need to understand the drivers of non-adherence in your patients, and how you can optimize medication adherence in your clinics to drastically improve patient outcomes.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
Rheumatology International
Published in: Rheumatology International 9/2017

01-09-2017 | Epidemiology of RMD

Prevalence of fibromyalgia in general population and patients, a systematic review and meta-analysis

Authors: Fatemeh Heidari, Mahdi Afshari, Mahmood Moosazadeh

Published in: Rheumatology International | Issue 9/2017

Login to get access

Abstract

This study aims to estimate the reliable prevalence of fibromyalgia using meta-analysis method. Available databanks were searched using appropriate keywords. According to the heterogeneity between the results (indicated by Cochrane and I square indices), random- or fixed-effects model was applied to combine the point prevalences. Meta-regression models were used to assess the suspected factors in the heterogeneity. In 65 selected papers, 81 evidences regarding prevalence of fibromyalgia among 3,609,810 subjects from general population and specific groups were investigated. The total prevalences (95% confidence intervals) of fibromyalgia among general population, women, men, patients referring to rheumatology and internal departments, patients with Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), hemodialysis patients and those with type 2 diabetes mellitus were estimated as of 1.78% (1.65, 1.92), 3.98% (2.80, 5.20), 0.01% (−0.04, 0.06), 15.2% (13.6, 16.90), 12.9% (12.70, 13.10), 6.30% (4.60, 7.90) and 14.80% (11.10, 18.40), respectively. In addition, prevalence of fibromyalgia in specified groups varied from 3.90% in hemodialysis patients to 80% in patients suffering from Behcet syndrome. This meta-analysis showed that prevalence of fibromyalgia in general population was significantly lower than that in populations with some diseases.
Appendix
Available only for authorised users
Literature
1.
Naji A, Arab P (2006) Prevalence of fibromyalgia syndrome in patients referring to Shariati hospital, Terhan. Tehran Univ Med J 64(10):60–66
2.
Topbas M, Cakirbay H, Gulec H, Akgol E, Ak I, Can G (2005) The prevalence of fibromyalgia in women aged 20–64 in Turkey. Scand J Rheumatol 34(2):140–144PubMed
3.
Branco JC, Bannwarth B, Failde I, Carbonell JA, Blotman F, Spaeth M et al (2010) Prevalence of fibromyalgia: a survey in five European countries. Semin Arthritis Rheum 39(6):448–453CrossRefPubMed
4.
Shakibi MR, Ata-pour J, Ramezani MA (2001) Prevalence of fibromyalgia in patients referring to Kerman rheumatology clinic from 1995 to 1998. J Kerman Univ Med Sci 8(4):220–225
5.
Santos AMB, Burti JS, Lopes JB, Scazufca M, Marques AP, Pereira RMR (2010) Prevalence of fibromyalgia and chronic widespread pain in community-dwelling elderly subjects living in São Paulo, Brazil. Maturitas 67(3):251–255CrossRefPubMed
6.
Croft P, Rigby A, Boswell R, Schollum J, Silman A (1993) The prevalence of chronic widespread pain in the general population. J Rheumatol 20(4):710–713PubMed
7.
Bannwarth B, Blotman F, Roué-Le Lay K, Caubère J-P, André E, Taïeb C (2009) Fibromyalgia syndrome in the general population of France: a prevalence study. Joint Bone Spine 76(2):184–187CrossRefPubMed
8.
White KP, Harth M, Speechley M, Ostbye T (1999) Testing an instrument to screen for fibromyalgia syndrome in general population studies: the London Fibromyalgia Epidemiology Study Screening Questionnaire. J Rheumatol 26(4):880–884PubMed
9.
Pincus T, Castrejón I (2012) An evidence-based medical visit for patients with rheumatoid arthritis based on standard, quantitative scientific data from a patient MDHAQ and physician report. Bull NYU Hosp Jt Dis 70(2):73–94PubMed
10.
Moosazadeh M, Lankarani KB, Afshari M (2016) Meta-analysis of the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection among children and adults of Iran. Int J Prev Med 7:48CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
11.
Haghshenas MR, Mousavi T, Moosazadeh M, Afshari M (2016) Human papillomavirus and breast cancer in Iran: a meta-analysis. Iran J Basic Med Sci 19(3):231–237PubMedPubMedCentral
12.
Kelishadi R, Haghdoost AA, Moosazadeh M, Keikha M, Aliramezany M (2015) A systematic review and meta-analysis on screening lipid disorders in the pediatric age group. J Res Med Sci 20(12):1191–1199CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
13.
Von Elm E, Altman DG, Egger M, Pocock SJ, Gotzsche PC, Vandenbroucke JP et al (2007) The Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) statement: guidelines for reporting observational studies. Prev Med 45(4):247–251CrossRef
14.
Higgins JP, Thompson SG (2002) Quantifying heterogeneity in a meta-analysis. Stat Med 21(11):1539–1558CrossRefPubMed
15.
Ablin JN, Oren A, Cohen S, Aloush V, Buskila D, Elkayam O et al (2012) Prevalence of fibromyalgia in the Israeli population: a population-based study to estimate the prevalence of fibromyalgia in the Israeli population using the London Fibromyalgia Epidemiology Study Screening Questionnaire (LFESSQ). Clin Exp Rheumatol 30(6 Suppl 74):39–43PubMed
16.
Almodovar R, Carmona L, Zarco P, Collantes E, Gonzalez C, Mulero J et al (2010) Fibromyalgia in patients with ankylosing spondylitis: prevalence and utility of the measures of activity, function and radiological damage. Clin Exp Rheumatol 28(6 Suppl 63):S33–S39PubMed
17.
Andary MT, Wieting JM, Baer D, Naftulin S, Hallgren RC (2004) The prevalence of fibromyalgia in collegiate athletes. J Clin Rheumatol Pract Rep Rheum Musculoskelet Dis 10(6):323–325
18.
Assumpcao A, Cavalcante AB, Capela CE, Sauer JF, Chalot SD, Pereira CA et al (2009) Prevalence of fibromyalgia in a low socioeconomic status population. BMC Musculoskelet Disord 10:64CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
19.
Barton A, Pal B, Whorwell PJ, Marshall D (1999) Increased prevalence of sicca complex and fibromyalgia in patients with irritable bowel syndrome. Am J Gastroenterol 94(7):1898–1901CrossRefPubMed
20.
Bennett R (2005) The Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ): a review of its development, current version, operating characteristics and uses. Clin Exp Rheumatol 23(5):S154PubMed
21.
Brill S, Ablin JN, Goor-Aryeh I, Hyat K, Slefer A, Buskila D (2012) Prevalence of fibromyalgia syndrome in patients referred to a tertiary pain clinic. J Investig Med Off Publ Am Fed Clin Res 60(4):685–688
22.
Buskila D, Ablin JN, Ben-Zion I, Muntanu D, Shalev A, Sarzi-Puttini P et al (2009) A painful train of events: increased prevalence of fibromyalgia in survivors of a major train crash. Clin Exp Rheumatol 27(5 Suppl 56):S79–S85PubMed
23.
Buskila D, Fefer P, Harman-Boehm I, Press J, Neumann L, Lunenfeld E et al (1993) Assessment of nonarticular tenderness and prevalence of fibromyalgia in hyperprolactinemic women. J Rheumatol 20(12):2112–2115PubMed
24.
Buskila D, Neumann L, Odes LR, Schleifer E, Depsames R, Abu-Shakra M (2001) The prevalence of musculoskeletal pain and fibromyalgia in patients hospitalized on internal medicine wards. Semin Arthritis Rheum 30(6):411–417CrossRefPubMed
25.
Carranza-Lira S, Hernandez IB (2014) Prevalence of fibromyalgia in premenopausal and postmenopausal women and its relation to climacteric symptoms. Przeglad menopauzalny Menopause Rev 13(3):169–173CrossRef
26.
Clark P, Burgos-Vargas R, Medina-Palma C, Lavielle P, Marina FF (1998) Prevalence of fibromyalgia in children: a clinical study of Mexican children. J Rheumatol 25(10):2009–2014PubMed
27.
Cobankara V, Unal UO, Kaya A, Bozkurt AI, Ozturk MA (2011) The prevalence of fibromyalgia among textile workers in the city of Denizli in Turkey. Int J Rheum Dis 14(4):390–394CrossRefPubMed
28.
Cole JA, Rothman KJ, Cabral HJ, Zhang Y, Farraye FA (2006) Migraine, fibromyalgia, and depression among people with IBS: a prevalence study. BMC Gastroenterol 6:26CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
29.
Couto CI, Natour J, Carvalho AB (2008) Fibromyalgia: its prevalence and impact on the quality of life on a hemodialyzed population. Hemodial Int Int Symp Home Hemodial 12(1):66–72CrossRef
30.
Cruz BA, Catalan-Soares B, Proietti F (2006) Higher prevalence of fibromyalgia in patients infected with human T cell lymphotropic virus type I. J Rheumatol 33(11):2300–2303PubMed
31.
Davatchi F, Tehrani Banihashemi A, Gholami J, Faezi ST, Forouzanfar MH, Salesi M et al (2009) The prevalence of musculoskeletal complaints in a rural area in Iran: a WHO-ILAR COPCORD study (stage 1, rural study) in Iran. Clin Rheumatol 28(11):1267–1274CrossRefPubMed
32.
Demir SE, Aytekin E, Karacan I, Aydin T, Kavadar GD (2014) The prevalence of fibromyalgia among patients with cervical radiculopathy due to cervical disc herniation: a pilot study. J Back Musculoskelet Rehabil 27(2):167–171CrossRefPubMed
33.
Durmaz Y, Alayli G, Canbaz S, Zahiroglu Y, Bilgici A, Ilhanli I et al (2013) Prevalence of juvenile fibromyalgia syndrome in an urban population of Turkish adolescents: impact on depressive symptoms, quality of life and school performance. Chin Med J 126(19):3705–3711PubMed
34.
Forseth KO, Gran JT (1992) The prevalence of fibromyalgia among women aged 20–49 years in Arendal, Norway. Scand J Rheumatol 21(2):74–78CrossRefPubMed
35.
Goulding C, O’Connell P, Murray FE (2001) Prevalence of fibromyalgia, anxiety and depression in chronic hepatitis C virus infection: relationship to RT-PCR status and mode of acquisition. Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol 13(5):507–511CrossRefPubMed
36.
Harbeck B, Sufke S, Harten P, Haas CS, Lehnert H, Monig H (2013) High prevalence of fibromyalgia-associated symptoms in patients with hypothalamic-pituitary disorders. Clin Exp Rheumatol 31(6 Suppl 79):S16–S21PubMed
37.
Harvey CK (1993) Fibromyalgia. Part II. Prevalence in the podiatric patient population. J Am Podiatr Med Assoc 83(7):416–417CrossRefPubMed
38.
Haviland MG, Banta JE, Przekop P (2011) Fibromyalgia: prevalence, course, and co-morbidities in hospitalized patients in the United States, 1999–2007. Clin Exp Rheumatol 29(6 Suppl 69):S79–S87PubMed
39.
Howard KJ, Mayer TG, Neblett R, Perez Y, Cohen H, Gatchel RJ (2010) Fibromyalgia syndrome in chronic disabling occupational musculoskeletal disorders: prevalence, risk factors, and posttreatment outcomes. J Occup Environ Med Am Coll Occup Environ Med 52(12):1186–1191CrossRef
40.
Ifergane G, Buskila D, Simiseshvely N, Zeev K, Cohen H (2006) Prevalence of fibromyalgia syndrome in migraine patients. Cephalalgia Int J Headache 26(4):451–456CrossRef
41.
Jones GT, Atzeni F, Beasley M, Fluss E, Sarzi-Puttini P, Macfarlane GJ (2015) The prevalence of fibromyalgia in the general population: a comparison of the American College of Rheumatology 1990, 2010, and modified 2010 classification criteria. Arthritis Rheumatol (Hoboken, NJ) 67(2):568–575CrossRef
42.
Kim C, Kim H, Kim J (2012) Prevalence of chronic widespread pain and fibromyalgia syndrome: a Korean hospital-based study. Rheumatol Int 32(11):3435–3442CrossRefPubMed
43.
Kucuksen S, Genc E, Yilmaz H, Salli A, Gezer IA, Karahan AY et al (2013) The prevalence of fibromyalgia and its relation with headache characteristics in episodic migraine. Clin Rheumatol 32(7):983–990CrossRefPubMed
44.
Leblebici B, Ozelsancak R, Yilmaz EE, Doruk P (2016) Fibromyalgia syndrome in Turkish hemodialysis patients. Hemodial Int Int Symp Home Hemodial 20(1):106–110CrossRef
45.
Lindell L, Bergman S, Petersson IF, Jacobsson LT, Herrstrom P (2000) Prevalence of fibromyalgia and chronic widespread pain. Scand J Prim Health Care 18(3):149–153CrossRefPubMed
46.
Lundberg G, Gerdle B (2002) Tender point scores and their relations to signs of mobility, symptoms, and disability in female home care personnel and the prevalence of fibromyalgia syndrome. J Rheumatol 29(3):603–613PubMed
47.
Okumus M, Parpucu H, Kocaoglu S, Ceceli E, Duranay M, Borman P (2012) The frequency of fibromyalgia syndrome and the quality of life in patients with peritoneal dialysis. Open J Rheumatol Autoimmune Dis 2(4):88–93CrossRef
48.
Mäkelä M, Heliövaara M (1991) Prevalence of primary fibromyalgia in the Finnish population. BMJ Br Med J 303(6796):216–219CrossRef
49.
Marrie RA, Yu BN, Leung S, Elliott L, Warren S, Wolfson C et al (2012) The incidence and prevalence of fibromyalgia are higher in multiple sclerosis than the general population: a population-based study. Multiple Scler Relat Disord 1(4):162–167CrossRef
50.
Mas AJ, Carmona L, Valverde M, Ribas B (2008) Prevalence and impact of fibromyalgia on function and quality of life in individuals from the general population: results from a nationwide study in Spain. Clin Exp Rheumatol 26(4):519–526PubMed
51.
Melikoglu M, Melikoglu MA (2013) The prevalence of fibromyalgia in patients with Behcet’s disease and its relation with disease activity. Rheumatol Int 33(5):1219–1222CrossRefPubMed
52.
Middleton GD, McFarlin JE, Lipsky PE (1994) The prevalence and clinical impact of fibromyalgia in systemic lupus erythematosus. Arthritis Rheum 37(8):1181–1188CrossRefPubMed
53.
Guermazi M, Ghroubi S, Sellami M, Elleuch M, Feki H, André E et al (2008) Fibromyalgia prevalence in TUNISIA. Tunis Med 86(9):806–811PubMed
54.
Mohammad A, Carey JJ, Storan E, Scarry M, Coughlan RJ, Lee JM (2012) Prevalence of fibromyalgia among patients with chronic hepatitis C infection: relationship to viral characteristics and quality of life. J Clin Gastroenterol 46(5):407–412CrossRefPubMed
55.
Mohammad A, Carey JJ, Storan E, Scarry M, Coughlan RJ, Lee JM (2013) High prevalence of fibromyalgia in patients with HFE-related hereditary hemochromatosis. J Clin Gastroenterol 47(6):559–564CrossRefPubMed
56.
Nunes FR, Ferreira JM, Bahamondes L (2014) Prevalence of fibromyalgia and quality of life in women with and without endometriosis. Gynecol Endocrinol Off J Int Soc Gynecol Endocrinol 30(4):307–310CrossRef
57.
Ozsahin M, Gonen I, Ermis F, Oktay M, Besir FH, Kutlucan A et al (2013) The prevalence of fibromyalgia among patients with hepatitis B virus infection. Int J Clin Exp Med 6(9):804–808PubMedPubMedCentral
58.
Patucchi E, Fatati G, Puxeddu A, Coaccioli S (2003) Prevalence of fibromyalgia in diabetes mellitus and obesity. Recenti Prog Med 94(4):163–165PubMed
59.
Perrot S, Vicaut E, Servant D, Ravaud P (2011) Prevalence of fibromyalgia in France: a multi-step study research combining national screening and clinical confirmation: the DEFI study (Determination of Epidemiology of FIbromyalgia). BMC Musculoskelet Disord 12:224CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
60.
Prescott E, Kjoller M, Jacobsen S, Bulow PM, Danneskiold-Samsoe B, Kamper-Jorgensen F (1993) Fibromyalgia in the adult Danish population: I. A prevalence study. Scand J Rheumatol 22(5):233–237CrossRefPubMed
61.
Rusu C, Gee ME, Lagace C, Parlor M (2015) Chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia in Canada: prevalence and associations with six health status indicators. Health Promot Chronic Dis Prevent Canada Res Policy Pract 35(1):3–11CrossRef
62.
Saa’d S, Many A, Jacob G, Ablin JN (2013) High prevalence of fibromyalgia symptoms among healthy full-term pregnant women. Rheumatol Int 33(6):1555–1560CrossRefPubMed
63.
Samimagham H, Haghighi A, Tayebi M, Jenabi A, Arabi M, Kianmehr N (2014) Prevalence of fibromyalgia in hemodialysis patients. Iran J Kidney Dis 8(3):236–239PubMed
64.
Sauer K, Kemper C, Glaeske G (2011) Fibromyalgia syndrome: prevalence, pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions in outpatient health care. An analysis of statutory health insurance data. Joint Bone Spine revue du rhumatisme 78(1):80–84CrossRef
65.
Sperber AD, Atzmon Y, Neumann L, Weisberg I, Shalit Y, Abu-Shakrah M et al (1999) Fibromyalgia in the irritable bowel syndrome: studies of prevalence and clinical implications. Am J Gastroenterol 94(12):3541–3546CrossRefPubMed
66.
Thune PO (2005) The prevalence of fibromyalgia among patients with psoriasis. Acta Dermato-venereologica 85(1):33–37CrossRefPubMed
67.
Toda K (2007) The prevalence of fibromyalgia in Japanese workers. Scand J Rheumatol 36(2):140–144CrossRefPubMed
68.
Vallejo M, Martínez-Martínez L-A, Grijalva-Quijada S, Olguín-Ruvalcaba H-M, Salas E, Hermosillo AG et al (2013) Prevalence of fibromyalgia in vasovagal syncope. JCR J Clin Rheumatol 19(3):111–114CrossRefPubMed
69.
Vincent A, Lahr BD, Wolfe F, Clauw DJ, Whipple MO, Oh TH et al (2013) Prevalence of fibromyalgia: a population-based study in Olmsted County, Minnesota, utilizing the Rochester Epidemiology Project. Arthritis Care Res 65(5):786–792CrossRef
70.
Walitt B, Nahin RL, Katz RS, Bergman MJ, Wolfe F (2015) The prevalence and characteristics of fibromyalgia in the 2012 National Health Interview Survey. PLoS One 10(9):e0138024CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
71.
Wolak T, Weitzman S, Harman-Boehm I, Friger M, Sukenik S (2001) Prevalence of fibromyalgia in type 2 diabetes mellitus. Harefuah 140(11):1006–9, 120, 119
72.
Wolfe F, Brahler E, Hinz A, Hauser W (2013) Fibromyalgia prevalence, somatic symptom reporting, and the dimensionality of polysymptomatic distress: results from a survey of the general population. Arthritis Care Res 65(5):777–785CrossRef
73.
Yanmaz MN, Mert M, Korkmaz M (2012) The prevalence of fibromyalgia syndrome in a group of patients with diabetes mellitus. Rheumatol Int 32(4):871–874CrossRefPubMed
74.
Yener M, Erturan I, Ceyhan AM, Inal EE, Kazanoglu OO (2013) The evaluation of prevalence of fibromyalgia in patients with chronic urticaria. Med Sci Monit Int Med J Exp Clin Res 19:757–761
Metadata
Title
Prevalence of fibromyalgia in general population and patients, a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors
Fatemeh Heidari
Mahdi Afshari
Mahmood Moosazadeh
Publication date
01-09-2017
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
Rheumatology International / Issue 9/2017
Print ISSN: 0172-8172
Electronic ISSN: 1437-160X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00296-017-3725-2

Other articles of this Issue 9/2017

Rheumatology International 9/2017 Go to the issue

Epidemiology of RMD

Prevalence and incidence of gout in Korea: data from the national health claims database 2007–2015

Health Services Research

Benefit-risk trade-offs for treatment decisions in moderate-to-severe rheumatoid arthritis: focus on the patient perspective

Review on Pathology

Foot health in patients with rheumatoid arthritis—a scoping review

Clinical trials

Maintenance of remission with combination etanercept–DMARD therapy versus DMARDs alone in active rheumatoid arthritis: results of an international treat-to-target study conducted in regions with limited biologic access

Imaging

Morphological evaluation of median nerve: why ultrasound?

Validation Studies

Western Ontario Shoulder Instability Index: cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the Turkish version
Live Webinar | 27-06-2024 | 18:00 (CEST)

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Reserve your place

Live: Thursday 27th June 2024, 18:00-19:30 (CEST)

WHO estimates that half of all patients worldwide are non-adherent to their prescribed medication. The consequences of poor adherence can be catastrophic, on both the individual and population level.

Join our expert panel to discover why you need to understand the drivers of non-adherence in your patients, and how you can optimize medication adherence in your clinics to drastically improve patient outcomes.

Prof. Kevin Dolgin
Prof. Florian Limbourg
Prof. Anoop Chauhan
Developed by: Springer Medicine
Obesity Clinical Trial Summary

At a glance: The STEP trials

Read more

A round-up of the STEP phase 3 clinical trials evaluating semaglutide for weight loss in people with overweight or obesity.

Developed by: Springer Medicine

Highlights from the ACC 2024 Congress

Year in Review: Pediatric cardiology

Pediatric Cardiology Video

Watch Dr. Anne Marie Valente present the last year's highlights in pediatric and congenital heart disease in the official ACC.24 Year in Review session.

Year in Review: Pulmonary vascular disease

Cardiopulmonary Comorbidity Video

The last year's highlights in pulmonary vascular disease are presented by Dr. Jane Leopold in this official video from ACC.24.

Year in Review: Valvular heart disease

Valvular Heart Disease Video

Watch Prof. William Zoghbi present the last year's highlights in valvular heart disease from the official ACC.24 Year in Review session.

Year in Review: Heart failure and cardiomyopathies

Heart Failure Video

Watch this official video from ACC.24. Dr. Biykem Bozkurt discusses last year's major advances in heart failure and cardiomyopathies.

ACC 2024 Congress Coverage

Year in Review: Heart failure and cardiomyopathies

Heart Failure Video

Watch this official video from ACC.24. Dr. Biykem Bozkurt discusses last year's major advances in heart failure and cardiomyopathies.

Watch now

Semaglutide benefits people with type 2 diabetes and obesity-related heart failure

16-04-2024 Type 2 Diabetes News

Incentivised to exercise

11-04-2024 Lifestyle Modifications News

New intervention for STEMI-related cardiogenic shock

10-04-2024 Myocardial Infarction News

» View more highlights on the ACC 2024 congress hub page

Image Credits