{
  "abstract": "Estimates of fibromyalgia prevalence vary widely worldwide due to differences in diagnostic criteria, study methodology, and population characteristics. Accurate estimates are essential to inform population-level surveillance, guide resource allocation, and highlight disparities in disease recognition and access to care. The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to determine the global prevalence of fibromyalgia in the general population, and secondarily to identify factors moderating prevalence variation and to assess prevalence in defined at-risk subpopulations. Pooled prevalence estimates with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using the inverse variance heterogeneity model with Freeman-Tukey transformation. Subgroup analyses were performed by sex, diagnostic criteria, country, and other study characteristics, and meta-regression assessed moderators including publication year and Human Development Index (HDI). Of 21,645 records identified, 1,728 underwent full-text review and 882 studies were included in the final analysis. Across 38 countries and 30,070,032 individuals (188 studies), the pooled fibromyalgia prevalence in the general population was 1.40% (95% CI, 0.49-2.47), with substantial heterogeneity (I2 = 100%) and very low certainty of evidence. Among at-risk subpopulations (9,771,123 participants; 768 studies), prevalence was markedly higher in autoimmune and inflammatory conditions, such as chronic urticaria (37.1%), interstitial cystitis (30.8%), systemic sclerosis (20.6%), celiac disease (20.5%), and inflammatory bowel disease (19.9%), and elevated in chronic pain, rheumatologic, and post-infection cohorts. Meta-regression identified publication year (β = 0.008, P < .001) and HDI (β = 0.725, P = .002) as significant moderators of prevalence. In conclusion, fibromyalgia affects 1% to 2% of the global population, with substantially higher rates in at-risk subpopulations. Temporal and socioeconomic trends emphasize diagnostic inconsistency and global disparities in care.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "From theDepartment of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota",
    "Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Management, John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County, Chicago, Illinois",
    "Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota",
    "Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri",
    "Department of Orthopedics and Physical Medicine, University of Massachusetts Memorial Health, Worcester, Massachusetts",
    "Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine/Health System, Miami, Florida",
    "Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota",
    "Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois",
    "Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland—Bahrain, Busaiteen, Bahrain",
    "Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota",
    "Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, New York-Presbyterian Hospital—Columbia and Cornell, New York, New York",
    "Florida Spine Care, Fort Lauderdale, Florida",
    "Nevada Advanced Pain Specialists, Reno, Nevada",
    "Mayo Clinic Libraries, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota",
    "Department of Anesthesiology, The Ohio State Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio"
  ],
  "article_type": "review",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 20,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Ryan Steven D'Souza",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-4601-9837"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Johana Klasová",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-0303-528X"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Mahmoud Morsi",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-9140-7134"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Ann Vincent"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Arya B. Mohabbat",
      "orcid": "0000-0003-1737-4714"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Savannah Whitfield"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3
      ],
      "name": "Christopher M. Radlicz",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-5102-9351"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        4
      ],
      "name": "Soun Sheen",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-1417-1906"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        5
      ],
      "name": "Daniel Wang",
      "orcid": "0000-0003-3488-7052"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        6
      ],
      "name": "Michael D. Zhitnitsky"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        7
      ],
      "name": "Chandan Saini"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        8
      ],
      "name": "Ahmed Al‐Hindawi",
      "orcid": "0000-0003-4547-6056"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Kalei Lopez"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        9
      ],
      "name": "Jimmy To"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        10
      ],
      "name": "Ahish Chitneni",
      "orcid": "0000-0001-5393-4569"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        11
      ],
      "name": "Mateusz J. Graca"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        12
      ],
      "name": "Benjamin Gill"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Yeng F Her",
      "orcid": "0000-0003-0190-5189"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        13
      ],
      "name": "Larry J. Prokop",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-7197-7260"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        14
      ],
      "name": "Nasir Hussain",
      "orcid": "0000-0003-0353-1002"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/21r6pfg9xa1v4.bib",
  "cited_by": 12,
  "doi": "10.1213/ane.0000000000008098",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "21r6pfg9xa1v4",
  "issns": [
    "0003-2999",
    "1526-7598"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://doi.org/10.1213/ane.0000000000008098",
  "language": "en",
  "licence": "CC-BY-NC-ND",
  "licence_label": "CC BY-NC-ND",
  "licence_source": "journal",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "2738|Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Research"
    ]
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  "openalex": "W7162518769",
  "pdf_url": null,
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": "42201834",
  "published": "2026-05-27",
  "publisher": "Lippincott Williams & Wilkins",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/21r6pfg9xa1v4.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-05T13:21:08Z",
      "native_id": "W7162518769",
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      "url": "https://doi.org/10.1213/ane.0000000000008098"
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  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "openalex:2738|Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Research",
      "subfield": "psychiatry"
    }
  ],
  "title": "The Prevalence of Fibromyalgia in the General Population and At-Risk Subpopulations: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis",
  "title_text": "The Prevalence of Fibromyalgia in the General Population and At-Risk Subpopulations: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-09T13:21:16Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/21r6pfg9xa1v4",
  "venue": "Anesthesia & Analgesia",
  "versions": []
}