A STUDY OF BONE TURNOVER AND BONE MINERAL DENSITY IN PATIENTS WITH FIBROMYALGIA.
Bone mineral density and fibromyalgia; a comparison between males and females.
D. Moyes. M. Stevenson and M. Finch* Department of Rheumatology, Musgrave Park Hospital, Belfast and *Department of Statistics, Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, Northern Ireland 2000
Background: Few studies have been reported that investigate the relationship between bones mineral density (BMD) and fibromyalgia (FM). Of these the results have been contradictory and limited to females. FM is associated with decreased physical activity and increased incidence of depression. Physical inactivity and depression have been independently associated with decreased BMD.
Objective: To compare BMD between male and female patients with FM.
Methods: Twenty-seven premenopausal women (mean age 42, range 35-53, one outlier age 23) and ten males (mean age 47, range 36-54) meeting the American College of Rheumatology criteria for FM had BMD measured at the femoral neck and lumbar spine using dual energy x-ray absorptiometry. Self-report questionnaires were used to assess risk factors for osteoporosis, level of depression (Beck Depression Inventory) impact of FM and physical impairment (Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire). Independent sample T -tests were used to compare BMD, questionnaire scores and other characteristics between males and females. Correlation coefficient was used to examine relationships between BMD and FM and BMD and depression.
Results: Overall T scores at lumbar, spine and hip and Z shores at lumbar spine and hip were significantly lower in the male group (P
Conclusion: Male patients with FM have significantly lower bone mineral density than premenopausal females with FM. This is despite male patients having significantly less physical impairment than females. Further studies are needed to explore this tendency ~ and the underlying pathogenesis towards lower bone mineral density in men with FM.
PUBLISHED IN RHEUMATOLOGY 2000 VOL 40, pps 94-95.
This study was funded by Fibromyalgia Support N. Ireland.