Sleep disordered breathing concomitant with fibromyalgia syndrome

• Published in: Jornal brasileiro de pneumologia 2006-07, Vol.32 (4), p.333-338
• Main Authors: Germanowicz, Dienaro, Lumertz, Magali Santos, Martinez, Denis, Margarites, Ane Freitas
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Body Mass Index; Female; Fibromyalgia - complications; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Polysomnography; Prospective Studies; Severity of Illness Index; Sleep Apnea Syndromes - complications; Sleep Apnea Syndromes - diagnosis
• ISSN: 1806-3713; 1806-3756
• DOI: 10.1590/S1806-37132006001100012

To identify fibromyalgia syndrome in patients with sleep disordered breathing. We studied 50 patients seeking treatment at a sleep disorder clinic for snoring, apnea and excessive daytime sleepiness. Sleep disordered breathing was diagnosed through the use of polysomnography. To diagnose fibromyalgia syndrome, patients were evaluated in accordance with the criteria established by the American College of Rheumatology. Of the 50 patients, 32 were male. The mean (+/- standard deviation) age of the group was 50 +/- 12 years. The mean body mass index was 29.7 +/- 5.6 kg/m(2). The mean apnea-hypopnea index was 36 +/- 29 attacks of apnea or hypopnea per hour of sleep. Of the 18 women and 32 men evaluated, 9 and 2, respectively, met the American College of Rheumatology criteria for fibromyalgia syndrome. Considering the fact that the prevalence of fibromyalgia syndrome in the general population is 0.5% for men and 3.4% for women, the more than ten-fold higher proportion of fibromyalgia cases seen in this sample supports the hypothesis that there is an association between sleep disordered breathing and fibromyalgia syndrome.