End Fatigue

Fibromyalgia Rates Doubling

Fibromyalgia is present in ~ 3-5 % of the population in studies in 5 European countries. This suggests that the rate of developing fibromyalgia has more than doubled in the last decade!

A survey was performed in 5 European countries (France,Germany, Italy, Portugal, and Spain) to estimate the prevalence of fibromyalgia (FM) in the general population.

The estimated overall prevalence of FM was 4.7% using criteria that suggest probable fibromyalgia. Even using more stringent criteria (which clinically exclude many with the illness), fibromyalgia was present 2.9% of the population.

References

Prevalence of Fibromyalgia: A Survey in Five European Countries. Semin Arthritis Rheum. 2009 Feb 26. [Epub ahead of print]. Branco JC, Bannwarth B, Failde I, Abello Carbonell J, Blotman F, Spaeth M, Saraiva F, Nacci F, Thomas E, Caubre JP, Le Lay K, Taieb C, Matucci-Cerinic M.