[Fibromyalgia, diagnosis and prevalence. Are gender differences explainable?]

Abstract

Most non-inflammatory musculoskeletal diseases are more common in women than in men. Fibromyalgia is characterised by chronic generalised muscle pain. The male:female ratio is 1:9. Interacting factors including genetic, hormonal, environmental and behavioural elements may cause this condition, and there are possibly subgroups of which one has shown to be treatable. A different pathogenetic appearance in the two sexes may also be present. The gender difference may partly be explained by the fact that pressure pain test in tender points forms part of the diagnosis. This may leave some male fibromyalgia patients unrecognized.