Publication:

Is fibromyalgia the most common diagnosis amongst female out-patients?

Background The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence of fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) among women coming to outpatient department.

Methods A total of 68,625 female patients were evaluated out of which 47,901 were in the inclusion criteria. The screening protocol included interview items that have been defined as components of FMS using the 1990 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) classification criteria. Data was entered in mx excel sheet and results were analyzed. The socio-demographic data was expressed in proportions.

Results Out of 47,901 female patients, about 40.7% of the patients were diagnosed to have fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS). Out of which the major group of patients belong to married, unskilled women aged between 40-60 years of age.

Conclusions Fibromyalgia syndrome is the commonest diagnosis among the female patients coming to orthopedic outpatient department.