[Frequent urination--an important diagnostic marker in fibromyalgia]

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Rheumatology
• Clinical Medicine

Context:

• Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain disorder with complex symptoms.
• Urinary frequency has not been widely recognized as a key symptom of fibromyalgia.
• A family study suggested a link between fibromyalgia and increased urination.

Purpose:

• To investigate the prevalence of increased urinary frequency in fibromyalgia patients.
• To determine if urinary frequency is a characteristic symptom of fibromyalgia.
• To assess the diagnostic utility of urinary frequency in fibromyalgia.

Summary:

• A questionnaire study compared urinary habits of 285 fibromyalgia patients and 160 healthy females.
• Fibromyalgia patients reported significantly higher rates of daytime (≥8) and nighttime (≥1) urination.
• Urinary frequency demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity for identifying fibromyalgia.

Impact:

• Increased urinary frequency is a characteristic feature of fibromyalgia.
• Urinary frequency can serve as a valuable diagnostic variable for fibromyalgia.
• This symptom pattern is associated with urinary urgency and potential incontinence.