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. 2022 Oct 31;6(1):62.
doi: 10.1186/s41927-022-00294-8.

Fibromyalgia: epidemiology and risk factors, a population-based case-control study in Damascus, Syria

Mhd Amin Alzabibi  1 , Mosa Shibani  2 , Tamim Alsuliman  3 , Hlma Ismail  2 , Suja Alasaad  2 , André Torbey  2 , Abdallah Altorkmani  2 , Bisher Sawaf  4 , Rita Ayoub  5 , Naram Khalayli  6 , Mayssoun Kudsi  2   6
Affiliations

Fibromyalgia: epidemiology and risk factors, a population-based case-control study in Damascus, Syria

Mhd Amin Alzabibi et al. BMC Rheumatol. .

Abstract

Background: Fibromyalgia is a chronic disease with a high burden. We aim to be the first to investigate the prevalence of fibromyalgia (FM) in Syria and assess its risk factors.

Methods: A self-reported questionnaire was distributed to the public to identify fibromyalgia patients using the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) 2010 modified criteria. Identified cases were matched using age with controls free from rheumatic disorders that were randomly sampled from the same population.

Results: Out of 2966 participants, 350 (11.8%) satisfied the diagnostic criteria. Of these, only 29 (8.2%) were previously diagnosed by a physician, 239 (68.3%) were females, and 69 (19.71%) were diagnosed with depression. Female sex (OR = 1.31), diagnosis of major depressive disorder (OR = 2.62), irritable bowel syndrome (OR = 1.8), and Restless legs syndrome (OR = 1.72) were associated with a higher likelihood of fibromyalgia.

Conclusion: Our study revealed one of the highest prevalence rates of fibromyalgia ever reported in the general population. Efforts must be intensified to increase awareness about this disease in Syrian society as well as among healthcare providers.

Keywords: Epidemiology; Fibromyalgia; Prevalence.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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