Fibromyalgia: A Silent Killer

A pooled data analysis of the existing evidence reveals that fibromyalgia, a disorder that causes persistent, widespread pain and exhaustion, may be associated with an increased risk of death because of a susceptibility to accidents, infections, and notably suicide. The study was published in the open-access journal RMD Open (1^✔ ✔Trusted Source
Fibromyalgia and mortality: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Go to source). In order to reduce these risks, the researchers recommend routine evaluation of patients' physical and mental health.

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Fibromyalgia Goes Hand-in-Hand With Other Illnesses

Although the precise cause of fibromyalgia is uncertain, the disorder is on the rise, according to the researchers. It is now widely accepted that the illness frequently coexists with other diseases, including rheumatic, digestive, neurological, and mental health illnesses.

These individuals are believed to be at a higher risk of premature death because of the severity of their pain and the chance that they will also have additional painful and incapacitating diseases.

Out of a total of 33 original studies, the researchers looked at the results of 8 that were published between 1999 and 2020 to support this theory. They combined the findings from 6 of them, encompassing 188,751 adults in total, all of whom also had additional medical issues.

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Fibromyalgia Increases The Risk of Death by 27%

The analysis showed that fibromyalgia was associated with a 27% heightened risk of death from all causes over time, although this wasn’t true for those diagnosed by the 1990 criteria.

However, since 1990, the diagnostic standards for fibromyalgia have changed along with our awareness of the condition's wide range of clinical symptoms. The researchers note that as a result, they were changed in 2010, 2011, and 2016.

According to the data, the risk of dying from cancer was 12% lower than it was for the general population at the same age, while the chance of dying from accidents was only slightly higher (5%).

However, it was more than three times greater for suicide and 44% higher for illnesses including pneumonia and septicemia.

Whether this heightened risk is due to the fibromyalgia itself or the concomitant conditions isn’t clear, note the researchers, as their research wasn’t designed to evaluate this. But this is an important issue, they emphasize, which further research needs to address.

And they caution that their findings should be interpreted in the light of differing designs and the small number of participants in the studies included in their analysis.

“Due to significant heterogeneity across the studies, which were also small in number, no clear conclusions can be drawn from the available data,” they write. “However, it is possible that for the subgroup of patients diagnosed by the 1990 criteria, there is no increased risk for mortality, and for those diagnosed by later versions the risk is increased,” they add.

And there are plausible explanations for their findings, they suggest. “The finding of increased mortality associated with accidents can stem from fatigue, unrefreshing sleep, and the concentration difficulties that accompany fibromyalgia, and have been a component of its diagnostic criteria since 2010.

“More and more evidence supports immune system involvement and inflammation in fibromyalgia pathophysiology, which can explain the finding of increased mortality from infections. Physical comorbidity may be an additional explanation.”

They further contend that these patients' excessive usage of medical services may be to blame for the lower risk of dying from cancer.

The hazards discovered by their investigation "could represent a serious public health problem, given the high prevalence of the condition," which doctors don't usually take seriously, they write.

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Fibromyalgia Being Called an ‘Imaginary Disease’ Could Impact Patients Negatively

“Studies have shown that medical staff are reluctant to accept fibromyalgia as a medical condition, and they face emotional and psychological difficulties interacting with these patients and coping with their disorder,” they write.

“Fibromyalgia is often called an ‘imaginary condition,’ with ongoing debates on the legitimacy and clinical usefulness of this diagnosis. Our review provides further proof that fibromyalgia patients should be taken seriously, with particular focus on screening for suicidal ideation, prevention of accidents, and prevention and treatment of infections,” they conclude.

Reference:

1. Fibromyalgia and mortality: a systematic review and meta-analysis - (https://rmdopen.bmj.com/content/9/3/e003005)

Source-Medindia