NATIONWIDE POPULATION-BASED STUDY OF MEN WITH FIBROMYALGIA AND ASSOCIATE COMORBIDITIES IN TAIWAN

Hsin-Li Liu, RN, MSN, Horng-Mo Lee, Ph. D, Yueh-Chin Chung, Ph. D*

ABSTRACT

Background: We calculated the incidence rate of fibromyalgia (FM) and comorbidities because of the lack of previous studies based on the incidence data of FM in Taiwanese males. The study was a population-based retrospective cohort study. Methods: We analyzed the 2000–2009 claims data on outpatients for FM diagnosis (ICD-9-CM codes 729.1) from the National Health Insurance Research Database. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. Results: Cases of FM in 100,603 males (44.77%) and 125,632 females (55.53%) were studied, with a male to female ratio of 0.75–0.87. The annual incidences of men with FM from 2000 (20.57 per 1,000 people/year) to 2009 (18.62 per 1,000 people/year) and peaked in 2004 (25.40 per 1,000 people/year). Among the Taiwanese population, the incidence rate of men with FM was the highest data (115.21 per 1,000 people/year) than men from other countries. Comorbidities in men with FM include musculoskeletal pain conditions (36.10%), neuropathic pain conditions (14.64%), and respiratory tract infections (14.27%). The males of FM & non-FM related comorbidities showed significantly higher FM are of acute renal failure (OR 8.52, 95% CI, 1.05–69.47; p =0.045), and hydronephrosis (OR 2.59, 95% CI, 0.88–7.65; p =0.085). Conclusion: People with FM aged 40–64 years had a higher incidence and renal disease than the non- FM group. FM directly or indirectly interferes with or decreases the physical activity levels, emotional function and quality of life. Therefore, it is important to detect and treat FM early in order to promote physical activity and comorbidities control.

Keywords: fibromyalgia,men, comorbidities, nationwide population-based study.