Clinical and Economic Characteristics of Patients With Fibromyalgia Syndrome

Abstract

Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a chronic disorder defined by widespread muscle pain and multiple tender points. The objectives of this study were to estimate prevalence of comorbidities, healthcare resources utilization, and costs associated with FMS. A retrospective cohort study was conducted using data from the Quebec provincial health plans (RAMQ) for a random sample of patients with diagnoses of FMS and a control cohort of patients without FMS, matched for age and gender. Prevalence of comorbidities was estimated. Healthcare resources consumed by FMS and non-FMS patients were identified in terms of visits to physicians, physician's interventions, pain-related medications, nonpain-related medications, and hospitalizations. A total of 16,010 patients with 2 diagnoses of FMS were identified, and control patients were randomly selected with a ratio of 1:1. Incidence of most comorbidities was significantly higher in the FMS group and the chronic disease score (3.8 vs. 2.8; ANOVA P <0.001). The proportion of patients with at least 1 comorbidity was 87.4% in the FMS group and 60.1% in the control group (chiP<0.001). The annual number of visits to physician and physician's interventions was 25.1 for FMS and 14.8 for non-FMS patients. The amount paid by the RAMQ was significantly higher for patients with FMS ($4065) compared with patients without FMS ($2766) (ANOVA P<0.001). Results of this analysis of the RAMQ database illustrate the high prevalence of comorbidities among patients with a diagnosis of FMS and strongly indicate that the economic burden of FMS is substantial.