Occupational exposures and fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain condition characterized by prolonged and widespread general pain and tenderness, sleep disturbances and fatigue. The pain is felt mainly in the muscles, but also joint pain occurs. Fibromyalgia affects approximately 2–6 percent of the population, of which 80 percent are women. The question is whether scientific basis describing the influence of occupational exposures on fibromyalgia.

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SBU Enquiry Service

Responds to queries received from Swedish healthcare and social service providers, or governmental organisations. Queries have a limited scope and the process is designed to enable a more rapid response, typically within two to three months. Reports are based on systematic reviews, that are identified through structured searches and critically appraised for risk of bias.

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Question

Is there any scientific basis describing different occupational expos¬ures for the onset or worsening of fibromyalgia?

Identified literature

  1. Farrell J, Littlejohn GO. Pain, nature of task, and body part used in fibromyalgia syndrome. Journal of Musculoskeletal Pain 1999;7:279-284.
  2. Larsson B, Balogh I. Is There a Relationship Between Fibromyalgia Syndrome and Work Conditions. Journal of Musculoskeletal Pain 2005;13:5-14.
  3. Kivimäki M, Leino-Arjas P, Virtanen M, Elovainio M, Keltikangas-Järvinen L, Puttonen S, et al. Work stress and incidence of newly diagnosed fibromyalgia: Prospective cohort study. Journal of Psychosomatic Research 2004;57:417-422.

Literature search

Literature search.pdf

Project group

Karin Stenström, Jonatan Alvan and Susanne Gustafsson at SBU.

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