Fibromyalgia in The Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Studies of Prevalence and Clinical Implications
Abstract
Objective The irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and the fibromyalgia syndrome (FS) coexist in many patients. We conducted complementary studies of the prevalence of FS in IBS patients and matched controls, and of IBS in FS patients and the implications of concomitant IBS and FS on health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Methods A study of 79 IBS patients with 72 matched controls (IBS study), and a study of 100 FS patients (FS study). All participants underwent tests of tender point sites and threshold of tenderness and answered questionnaires including personal and medical history, GI symptoms, and indices of HRQOL. Results In the IBS study, 25 of the 79 IBS patients (31.6%) and 3 of the 72 controls (4.2%) had FS (p Conclusions FS and IBS coexist in many patients. Patients with both disorders have worse scores on HRQOL indices than patients with either disorder alone, or controls. Physicians treating these patients should be aware of the overlap, which can affect the presentation of symptoms, health care utilization, and treatment strategies.
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IBS was diagnosed in 32% of women with known FMS.
“Correspondingly, IBS was diagnosed in 32% of women with known FMS.28”
From Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Co-morbid Gastrointestinal and Extra-gastrointestinal Functional Syndromes (2010) · cites this paper as [28]
Using consensus criteria, our group diagnosed FMS in 31.6% of IBS patients compared to 4.2% of controls.
“Using consensus criteria, our group diagnosed FMS in 31.6% of IBS patients compared to 4.2% of controls.”
From Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Co-morbid Gastrointestinal and Extra-gastrointestinal Functional Syndromes (2010) · cites this paper as [28]
In all clinical and health-related variables assessed, including global feeling of well-being, sleep disturbances, relation of stress to symptoms, physician visits, concerns about illness, and psychological distress, patients with both IBS and FMS had more severe disorders than those with IBS only.
“In all clinical and health-related variables assessed, including global feeling of well-being, sleep disturbances, relation of stress to symptoms, physician visits, concerns about illness, and psychological distress, patients with both IBS and FMS had more severe disorders than those with IBS only.”
From Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Co-morbid Gastrointestinal and Extra-gastrointestinal Functional Syndromes (2010) · cites this paper as [28]
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- Authors
- Sperber, A. D., Atzmon, Y., Neumann, L., Weisberg, I., Shalit, Y., Abu-Shakrah, M., Fich, A., & Buskila, D.
- Affiliations
- Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (IL)
- Corresponding author
- Sperber, A D
- ORCID
- Sperber, A D
- Venue
- American Journal of Gastroenterology
- Published
- 1999-12
- Volume
- 94
- Issue
- 12
- Pages
- 3541-3546
- ISSN
- 0002-9270 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2057059418
- Cited by
- 220
- References
- 4
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 13 · 2013: 18 · 2012: 13
- FWCI
- 4.48
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- The American Journal of Gastroenterology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Gastroenterology › Gastrointestinal motility and disorders
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Psychosomatic Disorders and Their Treatments
- Keywords
- fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, comorbidities, prevalence, health-related quality of life, tender points, pain, sleep disorders, anxiety, physical function, health care utilization
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Aged, Colonic Diseases, Functional, Cross-Sectional Studies, Female, Fibromyalgia, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Patient Care Team, Quality of Life, Referral and Consultation, Somatoform Disorders, Comorbidity
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