TITLE:
Prevalence and Characteristics of Fibromyalgia in Patients with Rheumatic Disease in Rheumatology Clinics in Kuwait
AUTHORS:
Mohammad Khudadah, Ghaydaa Aldabie, Taraheeb Alajmi, Ahmad Alenzi
KEYWORDS:
Fibromyalgia, Inflammatory Rheumatic Diseases, Prevalence, Comorbidity, Disease Activity Assessment, Central Sensitization, Kuwait, Cross-Sectional Study
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Biosciences and Medicines,
Vol.14 No.6,
June
10,
2026
ABSTRACT: Background: Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic pain syndrome characterized by widespread pain, fatigue, and associated symptoms that significantly impair quality of life. Its prevalence is higher among patients with rheumatic diseases compared to the general population, although regional data remain limited. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and clinical characteristics of FM in patients attending a rheumatology clinic in Kuwait. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using consecutive sampling of adult patients attending rheumatology clinics at Farwaniya Hospital in Kuwait between May and July 2025. Patients completed a self-administered questionnaire based on the 2016 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) fibromyalgia criteria. Demographic and clinical data, including age, sex, BMI, diagnosis, disease duration, and comorbidities, were collected. Patients with a pre-existing diagnosis of FM were excluded. Results: A total of 208 patients were included, of whom 112 fulfilled FM criteria, corresponding to a prevalence of 53.9% (95% CI 46.8% - 60.8%). The FM group had a mean age of 45.1 ± 11.3 years, with a predominance of females (82.1%). Female sex was associated with FM in univariable analysis (OR 2.09, p = 0.037). Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) was less frequent in the FM group compared to the non-FM group (25.9% vs. 41.7%, OR 0.47, p = 0.022). The prevalence of FM was similar among patients with SLE, psoriatic arthritis, and axial spondyloarthritis. All patients with Sj?gren’s syndrome (n = 7) met FM criteria; however, the small sample size precludes firm conclusions. No significant associations were observed between FM and other comorbidities. Conclusion: FM was highly prevalent in this rheumatology cohort. Female sex was associated with fibromyalgia in univariable analysis. The high prevalence observed may reflect overlap between FM symptoms and rheumatic disease manifestations. Routine screening for FM in rheumatology practice may improve clinical assessment and help distinguish inflammatory disease activity from non-inflammatory pain. Larger multicenter studies are needed to confirm these findings.