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Estimates indicate fibromyalgia as major health issue among Israelis
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Fibromyalgia prevalence among the Israeli population constitutes a significant health concern and is similar to percentages found among other Western countries, according to recent study data.
Researchers in Israel used the London Fibromyalgia Epidemiology Study Screening Questionnaire (LFESSQ) to conduct a telephone survey of 1,019 participants and to estimate fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) among the general population. The LFESSQ contains two screens: LFESSQ-4, which measures four items linked to widespread chronic pain, and LFESSQ-6, which assesses widespread pain and two criteria related to chronic fatigue.
In addition to the study’s phase 1 portion that screened the general population, phase 2 used the LFESSQ to examine 76 outpatients from a rheumatology clinic with either confirmed FMS or no diagnosis based on 1990 ACR guidelines. Among these patients, 41.5% and 33.8% screened positive for LFESSQ-4 and LFESSQ-6, respectively. Fifty percent of LFESSQ-4 and LFESSQ-6 positive patients also were ACR-criteria positive for FMS. Researchers established a positive predictive value (PPV) of 50% in this cohort by dividing those FMS positive patients by those who screened positive for LFESSQ-4 or LFESSQ-6. They then applied these values to their survey of the general population.
Among community survey respondents, 5.1% and 3.9% screened positive for LFESSQ-4 and LFESSQ-6, respectively. Based on LFESSQ-4 criteria, the point prevalence for FMS in the general Israeli population was 2.6% (95% CI, 1.7-3.4) and 2% (95% CI, 1.3-2.7) for LFESSQ-6. Estimated prevalence for FMS among the general male population was 1.5% (95% CI, 1.0-2.0) when using LFESSQ-4 and 1.1% (95% CI, 0.7-1.5) when applying LFESSQ-6.
“The current study demonstrates the significant prevalence of fibromyalgia in the Israeli population as well as a high proportion of males involved,” the researchers concluded. “FMS thus poses a major health issue in Israel, similar to other countries studied. Based on [LFESSQ], over 25% of fibromyalgia cases appear to be among males, a proportion higher than generally appreciated.”
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