Prevalence of fibromyalgia and associated factors in Spain.

OBJECTIVES: The prevalence of fibromyalgia (FM) differs depending on the population studied. The main objective of the EPISER2016 study was to estimate the prevalence of FM in adults in Spain. The secondary objective was to evaluate the association with sociodemographic and anthropometric characteristics and smoking. METHODS: This is a population-based cross-sectional multicentre study. The random selection was based on multistage stratified cluster sampling. The final sample comprised 4916 persons aged ≥20 years. Participants were contacted by telephone for completion of a screening survey. Investigating rheumatologists evaluated positive results (review of medical records and/or telephone interview, with medical visit if needed) to confirm the diagnosis. Prevalence and 95% confidence interval were calculated, taking into account the sample design. Weighing was applied based on age, sex, and geographic origin. Predictive models were constructed to analyse which sociodemographic, anthropometric and lifestyle variables in the call centre questionnaire were associated with the presence of FM. RESULTS: 602 subjects (12.25%) had a positive screening result for FM, of which 24 were missing (3.99%). A total of 141 cases of FM were recorded. The estimated prevalence was 2.45% (95% CI, 2.06-2.90). Female sex was the variable most associated with FM, with an odds ratio (OR) of 10.156 (95% CI, 5.068-20.352). Peak prevalence was at 60-69 years (p=0.009, OR=6.962). FM was 68% more frequent in obese individuals (OR, 1.689; 95% CI, 1.036-2.755). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of FM in adults in Spain barely changed between 2000 and 2016 and it is similar to that observed in Europe as a whole.

Prevalence of rheumatic diseases in adult population in Spain (EPISER 2016 study): Aims and methodology. / Prevalencia de enfermedades reumáticas en población adulta en España (estudio EPISER 2016). Objetivos y metodología.

AIMS: To describe the methodology of the EPISER 2016 (study of the prevalence of rheumatic diseases in adult population in Spain), as well its strengths and limitations. The aim of this study is to estimate the prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), ankylosing spondylitis (AS), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), Sjögren's syndrome (SS), osteoarthritis (knee, hip, hands, and cervical and lumbar spine), fibromyalgia, gout and clinical osteoporotic fracture. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Population-based, multicenter, cross-sectional study, with the participation of 45 municipalities in the 17 Spanish autonomous communities. The reference population will consist of adults aged 20 years and over residing in Spain. A computer-assisted telephone interview (CATI) system will be used for data collection. Diagnostic suspicions and diagnoses received by the participants will be studied by rheumatologists in the referral hospitals in the selected municipalities. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: the prevalence of the rheumatic diseases will be calculated using estimators and their 95% confidence intervals. Weights will be calculated in each of the sampling stages in accordance with the probability of selection. The distribution of the population in Spain will be obtained from the Spanish Statistics Institute. CONCLUSIONS: Sociodemographic and lifestyle changes over the last 16 years justify EPISER 2016. This study will provide current data about the prevalences of RA, AS, PsA, SLE, SS, osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, gout and clinical osteoporotic fracture. The results will allow comparisons with studies from other countries and EPISER 2000.

Giant cell arteritis: epidemiology, diagnosis, and management.

Giant cell arteritis (GCA), also called temporal arteritis, is a vasculitis that affects large and middle-sized blood vessels--with predisposition to the involvement of cranial arteries derived from the carotid artery--in individuals older than 50 years of age. Familial aggregation of GCA has been observed. Incidence of GCA is higher in white individuals than those of other ethnicities, particularly those of Scandinavian background. A temporal artery biopsy is the gold standard test for the diagnosis of GCA. Several imaging modalities, in particular ultrasonography, are useful in the diagnosis of GCA. Corticosteroids are the cornerstone of treatment in GCA. Alternative, steroid-sparing drugs, particularly methotrexate, should be considered in GCA patients with severe corticosteroid-related side effects and/or in those who require prolonged corticosteroid therapy due to relapses of the disease.