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COVID-19 associated hospitalization in 571 patients with fibromyalgia-A population-based study
Mor Amital1,2, Niv Ben-Shabat2,3, Howard Amital1,2,3,4,5
1The Adelson School of Medicine, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel.
Insights
Fibromyalgia (FM) patients are not at higher risk for severe COVID-19. However, traditional risk factors like older age, male sex, and hypertension increase hospitalization risk in FM patients during the pandemic.
Area of Science:
- Medical Research
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic condition affecting millions globally.
- Understanding COVID-19 risk factors in vulnerable populations is crucial.
- Previous research has not clearly defined COVID-19 severity predictors in FM patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify predictors of severe COVID-19 disease course in patients with fibromyalgia.
- To assess the association between fibromyalgia and COVID-19 hospitalization or mortality.
Main Methods:
- A population-based cohort study using Clalit Health Services data in Israel.
- Matched 18,598 FM patients with 36,985 controls based on age, sex, and location.
- Logistic regression models analyzed predictors of COVID-19 hospitalization.
Main Results:
- The study included 571 FM patients and 1008 controls who contracted COVID-19.
- Fibromyalgia itself was not directly linked to increased COVID-19 hospitalization or mortality.
- Older age (OR 1.25), male sex (OR 2.63), and hypertension (OR 1.75) predicted hospitalization in FM patients.
Conclusions:
- Fibromyalgia is not an independent risk factor for severe COVID-19 outcomes.
- Established risk factors remain significant for COVID-19 severity in the FM population.
- Public health strategies should consider these traditional risk factors in FM patients.
Objective:
To identify predicators of patients with fibromyalgia (FM) that are associated with a severe COVID-19 disease course.
Methods:
We utilized the data base of the Clalit Health Services (CHS); the largest public organization in Israel, and extracted data concerning patients with FM. We matched two subjects without FM to each subject with FM by sex and age and geographic location. Baseline characteristics were evaluated by t-test for continuous variables and chi-square for categorical variables. Predictors of COVID-19 associated hospitalization were identified using univariable logistic regression model, significant variables were selected and analyzed by a multivariable logistic regression model.
Results:
The initial cohort comprised 18,598 patients with FM and 36,985 matched controls. The mean age was 57.5± 14.5(SD), with a female dominance of 91%. Out of this cohort we extracted the study population, which included all patients contracted with COVID-19, and consisted of 571 patients with FM and 1008 controls. By multivariable analysis, the following variables were found to predict COVID-19 associated hospitalization in patients with FM: older age (OR, 1.25; CI, 1.13-1.39; p<0.001), male sex (OR, 2.63; CI, 1.18-5.88; p<0.05) and hypertension (OR, 1.75; CI, 1.04-2.95; p<0.05).
Conclusion:
The current population-based study revealed that FM per se was not directly associated with COVID-19 hospitalization or related mortality. Yet classical risk factors endangering the general population were also relevant among patients with FM.
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