A diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis, endometriosis or IBD is associated with later onset of fibromyalgia and chronic widespread pain

• BACKGROUND: Widespread pain is a common comorbidity in several chronic diseases and is suspected to be caused by the underlying disease that has provoked a state of central sensitization. However, this argument is currently limited by evidence that has not sufficiently captured the temporal nature of the relationship between diagnosis of the underlying disease and onset of widespread pain. The aim of this study was to investigate whether patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), endometriosis or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have a higher risk of developing widespread pain (fibromyalgia or chronic widespread pain [CWP]).METHODS: Using the Swedish Skåne Healthcare Register of healthcare consultation, a cohort of 889,938 adult patients were followed from 2007-2016, and incident cases of RA, endometriosis or IBD and of fibromyalgia and CWP were identified by registered diagnoses. Using Poisson regression, we calculated incidence rate ratios (IRR) adjusted for sex, age, education, and propensity to seek health care.RESULTS: For patients with RA, the IRR for later fibromyalgia was 3.64 (95% CI: 2.75-4.81) compared to patients without RA, and for CWP the figure was 2.96 (95% CI: 1.81-4.86). For endometriosis patients, the IRR for fibromyalgia was 2.83 (95% CI: 1.96-4.08) and for CWP 5.02 (95% CI: 3.10-8.13). IRR for IBD patients was 2.32 (95% CI: 1.58-3.42) for fibromyalgia and 1.42 (95% CI: 0.93-2.17) for CWP.CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that RA, endometriosis and IBD are all risk factors for later fibromyalgia and chronic widespread pain, consistent with a hypothesis of central sensitization as an effect of a painful underlying condition.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Reumatologi och inflammation (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Rheumatology and Autoimmunity (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Ortopedi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Orthopaedics (hsv//eng)

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