title: Fibromyalgia: epidemiology and risk factors, a population-based case-control study in Lebanon.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the epidemiology of fibromyalgia (FM) and assess its risk factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using data from the 2009 Community Oriented Program for Control of Rheumatic Diseases (COPCORD) study conducted in Lebanon, a population-based case control study was performed. The sample included 34 FM patients, frequency matched with 136 controls free from any musculoskeletal complaints and randomly sampled from the population. The controls were frequency matched with cases by age and gender.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 34 female FM cases were prevalent cases which existed for a long period of time and all those who consulted a doctor were previously misdiagnosed. Family history of joint problems (OR = 4.93, 95% CI: 1.56-15.58) and working status (OR = 2.69, 95% CI: 1.04-6.93) were significant risk factors for FM, after adjusting for body mass index, distress level, smoking status and residence location.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This was the first study to address the epidemiology of FM in Lebanon and the region. The chronic nature of FM that is characterized by frequent bouts of intense disabling pain and symptoms constitutes a significant health and economic burden. Clustering of cases in coastal areas was partially explained by other factors such as body mass index, distress level, smoking and work status. The high burden of FM found in our study calls for further investigation of potential risk factors of this condition.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology & Population Health, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon.
authors.forename: Afaf
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moukaddem
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology & Population Health, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon.
authors.forename: Monique
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chaaya
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics & Occupational Health, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Zeinab F N
authors.initials: ZFN
authors.lastname: Slim
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology & Population Health, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon.
authors.forename: Miran
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jaffa
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology & Population Health, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon.
authors.forename: Abla Mehio
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Sibai
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon.
authors.forename: Imad
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Uthman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D005356:Fibromyalgia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007861:Lebanon / Q000453:epidemiology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: epidemiology; fibromyalgia