Epidemiological and Clinical Profile of Fibromyalgia at the Kinshasa University Hospital : a Series of Clinical Cases

Abstract

BACKGROUND. Fibromyalgia is a controversial and often underreported clinical entity in routine medical practice. The present study aimed to describe its epidemiological and clinical profile in patients attending the Kinshasa University Hospital. METHODS. This is a series of clinical cases carried out in patients attending rheumatology practice at the Kinshasa University Hospital from December 2020 to March 2022. The following informations including age, sex, painful symptomatology, psychosomatic signs, the circumstances of the disease onset, factors that emphasize or reduce symptoms, the number of previous medical visits and, the impact on socio-professional life were collected. The diagnosis of fibromyalgia was defined according to the ACR 2010 criteria. Fibromyalgia was considered severe when it was associated with disability. Standard statistical tests were used to analyze the results. RESULTS. 585 patients were followed during the study period. The diagnosis of fibromyalgia was retained in 63 of them, corresponding to a frequency of 10.8%. The sex ratio was 2 in favor of women and the mean age was 50.9±12.4 years. The mean diagnostic score was 17.6±3.6. Painful manifestations were dominated by arm involvement (84.1%). Fatigue was the most common psychosomatic manifestation (93.7%). Anxiety (41.3%) dominated the basic psychic state of patients and the average of previous medical visits number was 5.2±1.6. Fibromyalgia was often triggered by emotional stress (44.4%). Quiet rest (42.9%) was the main calming factor. 60.3% of patients developped the severe form of the disease. CONCLUSION. Fibromyalgia is among common disease for which patients visit the rheumatology unit. So, it is required a special consideration from health care workers particularly rheumatologists for an early diagnosis.