Prevalence and Clinical Significance of Metabolic Syndrome in Fibromyalgia Patients

ABSTRACT

Background and Objective Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a distressing clinical condition. Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a biochemical and clinical condition characterised by visceral obesity, dyslipidaemia, hyperglycaemia and hypertension. The relation between the two conditions is rarely discussed. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of MetS in FMS patients and to uncover its association with the clinical severity of FMS.

Patients and Methods This cross-sectional study included 200 patients with newly diagnosed FMS. The diagnosis of FMS was established on the basis of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) 2016 revised criteria. Patients were assessed using the validated Arabic version of Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ). FMS severity was categorised according to FIQ scores into mild (≤45), moderate (>46 and≤65), and severe (>65).

Results The study included 200 FMS patients. They comprised 180 females (90.0%) and 20 males (10.0%). Among the studied patients, there were 96 patients (48.0%) who fulfilled the criteria of MetS diagnosis. A comparison between FMS patients with MetS and patients without MetS revealed a significantly higher Widespread Pain Index (WPI) [median (IQR): 12.0 (10.0–17.0) vs. 9.0 (6.0–11.0), p<0.001], a higher Symptoms Severity Scale (SSS) (10.5±1.04 vs. 8.1±1.8, p<0.001) and a higher FIQ (58.8±20.7 vs. 45.4±16.6) in patients with MetS. Patients with MetS had a significantly higher frequency of severe FMS (31.2 vs. 10.6%, p<0.001). Using binary logistic regression analysis, significant predictors of severe FMS included WPI, SSS and MetS in a univariate analysis. However, in a multivariate analysis, only WPI and SSS remained significant.

ConclusionsThis study found that MetS is prevalent in FMS patients and it may be associated with more severe forms of the disease.

ZUSAMMENFASSUNG

Hintergrund und Ziel Das Fibromyalgie-Syndrom (FMS) ist eine belastende klinische Erkrankung. Das metabolische Syndrom (MetS) ist eine biochemische und klinische Erkrankung, die durch viszerale Adipositas, Dyslipidämie, Hyperglykämie und Hypertonie gekennzeichnet ist. Die Beziehung zwischen den beiden Erkrankungen wird selten diskutiert. Ziel dieser Studie war es, die Prävalenz des MetS bei FMS-Patienten und den Zusammenhang mit dem klinischen Schweregrad des FMS zu ermitteln.

Patienten und Methoden Die vorliegende Querschnittsstudie umfasste 200 Patienten mit neu diagnostiziertem FMS. Die Diagnose FMS wurde auf der Grundlage der überarbeiteten Kriterien des American College of Rheumatology (ACR) 2016 gestellt. Die Patienten wurden anhand einer validierten arabischen Version des Fibromyalgie-Impact-Fragebogens (FIQ) bewertet. Der Schweregrad der Fibromyalgie wurde anhand der FIQ-Werte als leicht (≤ 45), mittel (> 46 und ≤ 65) und schwer (> 65) eingestuft.

Ergebnisse Die vorliegende Studie umfasste 200 FMS-Patienten, 180 Frauen (90,0%) und 20 Männer (10,0%). Von den untersuchten Patienten erfüllten 96 (48,0%) die Kriterien der Diagnose MetS. Ein Vergleich zwischen Patienten mit und Patienten ohne MetS ergab für Patienten mit MetS einen signifikant höheren WPI [Median (IQR): 12,0 (10,0–17,0) gegenüber 9,0 (6,0–11,0), p <0,001], einen höheren SSS (10,5±1,04 gegenüber 8,1±1,8, p < 0,001) und höhere FIQ-Werte (58,8 ± 20,7 gegenüber 45,4±16,6). Die Häufigkeit eines schweren FMS (31,2% gegenüber 10,6%, p<0,001) war bei Patienten mit MetS signifikant höher. Unter Verwendung der binären logistischen Regressionsanalyse waren WPI, SSS und MetS signifikante Prädiktoren für ein schweres FMS. In der multivariaten Analyse verblieben nur WPI und SSS als signifikante Prädiktoren für ein FMS.

Schlussfolgerungen Die vorliegende Studie ergab, dass MetS bei FMS-Patienten weit verbreitet ist und mit schwereren Formen der Krankheit assoziiert sein kann.

Key words

psychosomatic pain - fibromyalgia - metabolic syndrome - chronic pain - Widespread Pain Index

Schlüsselwörter

Fibromyalgie - Metabolisches Syndrom - Weit verbreiteter Schmerzindex - Chronischer Schmerz - psychosomatischer Schmerz

Publication History

Article published online:
04 May 2021

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