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Fibromyalgia syndrome in men
D Buskila1, L Neumann, A Alhoashle
1Epidemiology Department, Ben Gurion University of the Negev and Soroka Medical Center, Beer Sheva, Israel. lily@bgumail.bgu.ac.il
Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism
|August 31, 2000
Summary
Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is less common in men, but men in this study experienced worse symptoms, reduced physical function, and lower quality of life compared to women with FMS.
Area of Science:
- Rheumatology
- Clinical Medicine
- Pain Management
Background:
- Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is infrequently diagnosed in men, with limited data on its clinical presentation and severity.
- Understanding gender-specific differences in FMS is crucial for accurate diagnosis and effective management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate and compare the clinical characteristics and severity of fibromyalgia syndrome in men and women.
- To determine if the manifestation and impact of FMS differ between genders.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 40 men with FMS was age- and education-matched with 40 women diagnosed with FMS.
- FMS symptom presence and severity (visual analog scale), tender point count, tenderness thresholds (dolorimetry), psychological status (anxiety, depression), quality of life (QOL-16, SF-36), and physical function (Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire) were assessed.
Main Results:
- Men with FMS reported significantly more severe symptoms, diminished physical function, and poorer quality of life compared to women.
- While women exhibited lower tender point thresholds, the number of tender points was comparable between genders.
Conclusions:
- Despite its rarity in men, fibromyalgia syndrome appears to have a more severe health outcome in males compared to females in this study population.
- Further research with larger, diverse populations is warranted to validate these findings on gender-based differences in FMS outcomes.