Prevalence of fibromyalgia at the medical out patient clinic Kenyatta National Hospital
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Fibromyalgia syndrome is a disorder that is associated with significant morbidity. Despite
its existence worldwide there is hardly any epidemiological data in Africa and none in Kenya.
The prevalence of this disorder in the Kenyatta National Hospital medical out-patient and
rheumatology clinics is unknown.
OBJECTIVE:
To determine the prevalence of fibromyalgia, chronic regional pain and chronic widespread
pain in patients attending the medical outpatient and rheumatology clinic at Kenyatta
National Hospital ; to investigate the frequency of fibromyalgia symptoms and to document
the primary diagnosis and cormobid conditions in the these patients.
STUDY DESIGN:
This is a cross -sectional descriptive study that was carried out in the medical outpatient and
rheumatology clinic at the Kenyatta National Hospital.
MATERIALS AND METHODS:
A questionnaire that includes the 1990 American college of rheumatology (ACR ) criteria for
diagnosis of widespread pain and fibromyalgia and the Revised fibromyalgia impact
questionaire (FIQR) was administered on 384 patients with musculoskeletal pain
.Consecutive sampling was used.
RESULTS
The prevalence of fibromyalgia, chronic regional pain and chronic widespread pain amongst
patients with chronic musculoskeletal pains (n = 384) in the medical outpatient clinic and
rheumatology clinic of Kenyatta National Hospital was 13% (n = 50), 76% (n = 291) and
11% (n = 43) respectively. The overall three month prevalence of fibromyalgia in the general
medical outpatient clinic was 1% ,Chronic widespread pains 1.2% and Chronic regional pain
6.7% .The mean age of patients with fibromyalgia was 48.5 yrs SD 2.6 [95%CI 43.1-53.8].
There was a female predominance of 97.7% (n = 42). Mean duration of illness was 5.8 years
SD 0.8 [95%CI 4.1 - 7.4]. Rheumatoid arthritis was the most frequent primary (initial)
diagnosis at first consultation in the clinics [30.2% (n=13/43)]. Hypertension was the
commonest cormobid disease [53.5 0/0( n=23/43)]. The mean total FIQR score for
fibromyalgia patients was 55.94% SD (2.85)95%CI 50.19-61.68. The most frequent
symptoms were pain, fatigue, stiffness, depression, and unrefreshing sleep while balance
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problems, headache and increased sensitivity to the environment were the least reported
symptoms.
CONCLUSION
Fibromyalgia is prevalent amongst patients with musculoskeletal complains in the medical
outpatient and rheumatology clinics at the Kenyatta National Hospital. These patients
frequently have other cormobid illnesses and the primary diagnosis is often missed. Therefore
there is need to sensitize the care givers on this condition
Citation
Post graduate student in internal medicinePublisher
University Of Nairobi College of Health Sciences