Assessment of sarcopenia in patients with fibromyalgia

Abstract

Fibromyalgia is a chronic disorder characterized by persistent widespread musculoskeletal pain. Patients with fibromyalgia have reduced physical activity and increased sedentary rate. The age-associated reduction of skeletal muscle mass and function is called sarcopenia. The European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People developed a practical clinical definition and consensus diagnostic criteria for sarcopenia. Loss of muscle function is common in fibromyalgia and in the elderly. The goal of this study is to determine whether the reduction of muscle function in fibromyalgia is related to sarcopenia according to the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People criteria. Forty-five patients with fibromyalgia and thirty-nine healthy control female subjects were included. All the participants were assessed by Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire and SARC-F questionnaire. Muscle mass was evaluated by bioimpedance analysis, muscle strength by handgrip strength test and physical performance with the Short Physical Performance Battery. Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire and SARC-F scores were statistically significantly higher in the fibromyalgia group than in the control group, showing severe disease and a higher risk of sarcopenia in the fibromyalgia group ( p < 0.001). Muscle strength and physical performance were statistically significantly lower in the group with fibromyalgia than in the control group ( p < 0.001). There was no statistical difference between fibromyalgia and control groups regarding skeletal muscle mass ( p = 0.263). Our study demonstrated a significant reduction in muscle function in fibromyalgia patients without any loss of muscle mass. Loss of muscle function without decrease in muscle mass is called dynapenia.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00296-021-04973-6.