Differences Between Men and Women with Fibromyalgia

Abstract

Objective While fibromyalgia (FM) affects both men and women, differences exist in several factors including prevalence, symptoms and attitudes. Understanding these differences will help define the best approach to the clinical management of this still poorly-understood disease. This systematic review sought to identify gender differences in FM.

Data sources The databases PubMed, Science Direct, Scielo, Scopus, Web of Science, and Pesquisa were searched using the terms “fibromyalgia”, “men” and “women” and the Boolean operators “AND” and “OR” for articles dealing with this topic published in any language in the past 20 years. The task force initially identified citations for 257 published articles.

Study selection Of 257 records extracted, 28 articles were finally selected for inclusion.

Data Extraction In the 28 studies, 2 studies were a clinical trial and the remaining studies were descriptive (10), observational studies (12), retrospective studies (2) and prospective studies (2). Articles were abstracted and quality of the studies determined using specific criteria.

Data Synthesis The methodological quality of the studies reported in these articles was good (PEDro score 6.00±1.3328). Gender differences were detected in FM prevalence, symptoms and coping.

Conclusions Overall, men with FM experienced more stress and worse sleep quality while women complained more of pain-related symptoms. Both sexes showed low physical activity levels. Both men and women responded well to manual treatment reporting substantial pain relief.

Zusammenfassung

Zweck Obwohl Männer als Frauen von Fibromyalgie (FM) betroffen sind, bestehen Unterschiede in mehreren Faktoren wie Prävalenz, Symptomen und Einstellungen. Das Verständnis dieser Unterschiede wird dazu beitragen, den besten Ansatz für die klinische Versorgung dieser noch wenig verstandenen Krankheit zu definieren. Diese systematische Literatur-Reviews suchte nach geschlechtsspezifischen Unterschieden bei FM.

Datenquellen Die Datenbanken PubMed, Science Direct, Scielo, Scopus, Web of Science und Pesquisa wurden nach den Begriffen "Fibromyalgie“, "Männer“ und "Frauen“ sowie den Booleschen Operatoren "UND“ und "ODER“ durchsucht mit diesem Thema in den letzten 20 Jahren in einer beliebigen Sprache veröffentlicht. Die Task Force identifizierte zunächst Zitate für 257 veröffentlichte Artikel.

Studienauswahl Von 257 extrahierten Datensätzen wurden 28 Artikel schließlich für die Aufnahme ausgewählt.

Datenextraktion Von den 28 ausgewählten Artikeln waren 2 experimentelle Studien und die sonstigen Studien waren deskriptive Studien (10), Beobachtungsstudien (12), retrospektive Studien (2) und prospektive Studien (2). Die Artikel wurden zusammengefasst und die Qualität der Studien wurde nach spezifische Kriterien bestimmt.

Datensynthese Die methodische Qualität der in diesen Artikeln berichteten Studien war gut (PEDro-Score 6,00±1,3328). Geschlechtsspezifische Unterschiede wurden bei FM-Prävalenz, Symptomen und Gegenüberstellung festgestellt.

Resultate Männer mit FM hatten gründsätzlich mehr Stress und schlechtere Schlafqualität, während Frauen mehr über schmerzbedingte Symptome klagten. Beide Geschlechter zeigten eine geringe körperliche Aktivität. Sowohl Männer als auch Frauen sprachen gut auf die manuelle Therapy an und berichteten von wesentlicher Schmerzlinderung.

Key words

fibromyalgia - men - women - prevalence - difference

Schlüsselwörter

Fibromyalgie - Physiotherapie - Qualitätssicherung - Schmerz

Publication History

Received: 14 November 2019

Accepted: 01 January 2020

Article published online:
19 February 2020

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