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Published on: August 8, 2019
Fibromyalgia: a risk factor for osteoporosis
1Osteoporosis Prevention and Treatment Center, Santa Monica, California 90404, USA.
The Journal of Rheumatology
|December 22, 1999
Summary
Fibromyalgia patients often show lower bone mineral density (BMD), particularly in the spine. This suggests a potential link between fibromyalgia and osteoporosis, warranting early screening and intervention.
Area of Science:
- Rheumatology
- Bone Metabolism
- Clinical Diagnosis
Background:
- Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic pain condition.
- Osteoporosis is characterized by low bone density and increased fracture risk.
- The relationship between FM and bone health is not well-established.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate associations of bone mineral density (BMD) and osteoporosis in patients with fibromyalgia (FM).
- To compare BMD in women with FM to age and ethnically matched healthy controls.
Main Methods:
- 24 women with FM were compared to 48 age- and ethnically-matched controls.
- Bone densitometry assessed femoral neck and lumbar spine BMD.
- Statistical analysis used T tests to compare BMD across age groups (31-60 years).
Main Results:
- Patients with FM exhibited lower mean lumbar spine BMD across all age decades (p<0.05).
- Femoral neck BMD was lower in FM patients, reaching statistical significance in the 51-60 age group (p<0.05).
Conclusions:
- Fibromyalgia is frequently associated with osteoporosis in this pilot study.
- Early detection and intervention, including nutritional support, exercise, and pharmacotherapy, may be beneficial for FM patients.
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