OA19 The prevalence of fibromyalgia in people with inflammatory arthritis: an observational study in the Clinical Practice Research Datalink Aurum

Adeniran, Kolawole; Partington, Richard; Bailey, James; Mallen, Christian D; Muller, Sara; Scott, Ian C

Abstract

Background/Aims Fibromyalgia, a common condition characterised by chronic widespread pain/somatic symptoms, has substantial impacts on patients’ lives and healthcare use. Previous studies suggest it is far more common in inflammatory arthritis than the general population but are limited by small sample sizes/regional recruitment. We used a large, national, electronic health record database - Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) Aurum, containing primary care records from ∼20% of English practices - to estimate the prevalence of fibromyalgia in people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA)/psoriatic arthritis (PsA)/axial spondyloarthritis (AxSpA), examining its variation by age, gender, arthritis duration, and time. Methods Repeated cross-sectional analyses estimated the point prevalence of fibromyalgia (receipt of SNOMED/Read code diagnosis) in inflammatory arthritis on the 31st December 2004, 2009, 2014, and 2019. In each year, the denominator population comprised people: aged ≥18 years, registered with an English GP practice, contributing data to Aurum, and receiving a SNOMED/Read code for RA (and a prescribed synthetic DMARD)/PsA/AxSpA on/before the 31st December. Prevalence was reported overall and stratified by age/gender/arthritis duration. Results Fibromyalgia prevalence increased between each time-point, from 2.80% (95% CI 2.64, 2.97), 3.24% (2.91, 3.61) and 1.88 % (1.61, 2.20) in RA, PsA, and AxSpA in 2004 to 6.39% (6.22, 6.56), 6.27% (5.97, 6.59), and 4.10% (3.79, 4.44) in 2019 (see table). In all arthritis types and calendar years, fibromyalgia prevalence was highest in age categories <55 years, and mainly highest in age groups 35-44/45-54 years. It was consistently highest in females (vs. males), and in those with shorter arthritis durations (mainly within 4 years of diagnosis). Conclusion Coded primary care diagnoses of fibromyalgia in England are common in patients with RA, PsA, and AxSpA (compared to an estimated general population prevalence <2%), are increasing over time (potentially due to better recognition in primary care), and are commoner in females and those aged 35-54. Our finding that fibromyalgia prevalence is highest in those with shorter arthritis durations suggests it occurs relatively early post-diagnosis (or even pre-diagnosis). Further research is needed to understand the causes and timing of fibromyalgia in inflammatory arthritis, to enable better care of this common co-morbidity. Disclosure K. Adeniran: Grants/research support; KA is funded by a National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Academic Clinical Fellowship. R. Partington: Grants/research support; RP is funded by an NIHR Clinical Lectureship. J. Bailey: None. C.D. Mallen: Grants/research support; CM is funded by the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration West Midlands and the NIHR School for Primary Care Research. S. Muller: Grants/research support; SM is partly funded by the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration West Midlands. I.C. Scott: Grants/research support; ICS is funded by the NIHR [Advanced Research Fellowship](NIHR300826).

Citation

Adeniran, K., Partington, R., Bailey, J., Mallen, C. D., Muller, S., & Scott, I. C. (2025, April). OA19 The prevalence of fibromyalgia in people with inflammatory arthritis: an observational study in the Clinical Practice Research Datalink Aurum. Presented at British Society for Rheumatology Annual Conference 2025, Manchester Central Convention Complex, Manchester, England

• Presentation Conference Type: Presentation / Talk
• Conference Name: British Society for Rheumatology Annual Conference 2025
• Start Date: Apr 28, 2025
• End Date: Apr 30, 2025
• Acceptance Date: Apr 28, 2025
• Online Publication Date: Apr 28, 2025
• Publication Date: Apr 28, 2025
• Deposit Date: Jun 3, 2025
• Journal: Rheumatology
• Print ISSN: 1462-0324
• Electronic ISSN: 1462-0332
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 64
• Issue: Supplement_3
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/rheumatology/keaf142.019
• Public URL: https://keele-repository.worktribe.com/output/1242605
• Publisher URL: https://academic.oup.com/rheumatology/article/64/Supplement_3/keaf142.019/8115135