FIBROMYALGIA, which causes fatigue and continual widespread pain across the body, may be linked to an increased risk of death. New research has discovered that patients diagnosed with the condition have a particular vulnerability to infections, accidents, and suicide.
A pooled data analysis by researchers at the Department of Family Medicine and Sial Research Center for Family Practice and Primary Care, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel, has pinpointed the risk of death to be 27% higher from all causes over time for patients with fibromyalgia. Eight relevant studies were reviewed out of an initial series of 33, all of which were published between 1999–2020, and involved 188,751 adult patients. All patients had coexisting conditions alongside fibromyalgia.
Researchers demonstrated that the risk of death from cancer was 12% lower in comparison to the age-matched general population, and was approximately 5% higher with regard to accidents. However, the analysis discovered that risk of death was 44% higher in the fibromyalgia cohort for infections, which included septicaemia and pneumonia, and risks were raised more than three-fold for death by suicide.
Since 1990, the diagnostic criteria of fibromyalgia have been updated, alongside the increasing understanding of the plethora of clinical symptoms that are associated with the condition. It was stressed in this study that whilst the subgroup of patients who were diagnosed using the criteria from 1990 may have no increased risk for mortality, those who were diagnosed using later criteria have an increased risk.
Lead researcher Yulia Treister-Goldman, Department of Family Medicine and Sial Research Center for Family Practice and Primary Care, and Clalit Health Services, Southern District, Tel Aviv, Israel, commented: “The finding of increased mortality associated with accidents can stem from fatigue, unrefreshing sleep, and the concentration difficulties that accompany fibromyalgia, and are a component of its diagnostic criteria since 2010.” The research team did, however, stress: “Due to significant heterogeneity across the studies, which were also small in number, no clear conclusions can be drawn from the available data.”
It is unknown at present whether the heightened risk is a result of fibromyalgia itself, or the concomitant conditions, as this was not addressed in this particular study. However, the research team has stressed that this is an area which needs further research. It remains important for physicians and clinical teams to regularly monitor the physical and mental health of patients with fibromyalgia, in order to minimise preventable risk of death.
