COVID-19 associated hospitalization in 571 patients with fibromyalgia—A population-based study, 2021, Amital et al

Abstract

Objective
To identify predicators of patients with fibromyalgia (FM) that are associated with a severe COVID-19 disease course.

Methods
We utilized the data base of the Clalit Health Services (CHS); the largest public organization in Israel, and extracted data concerning patients with FM. We matched two subjects without FM to each subject with FM by sex and age and geographic location. Baseline characteristics were evaluated by t-test for continuous variables and chi-square for categorical variables. Predictors of COVID-19 associated hospitalization were identified using univariable logistic regression model, significant variables were selected and analyzed by a multivariable logistic regression model.

Results
The initial cohort comprised 18,598 patients with FM and 36,985 matched controls. The mean age was 57.5± 14.5(SD), with a female dominance of 91%. Out of this cohort we extracted the study population, which included all patients contracted with COVID-19, and consisted of 571 patients with FM and 1008 controls. By multivariable analysis, the following variables were found to predict COVID-19 associated hospitalization in patients with FM: older age (OR, 1.25; CI, 1.13–1.39; p<0.001), male sex (OR, 2.63; CI, 1.18–5.88; p<0.05) and hypertension (OR, 1.75; CI, 1.04–2.95; p<0.05).

Conclusion
The current population-based study revealed that FM per se was not directly associated with COVID-19 hospitalization or related mortality. Yet classical risk factors endangering the general population were also relevant among patients with FM.

Open access, https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0261772

 

Seems a floundering reason to do a study. What thoughts/hypotheses provoked such a study?. The top risk factors for hospitalization in the general population are obesity, male sex, underlying conditions (heart, lung disease, etc.).

Interesting also, the researchers had to throw in the depression and fibromyalgia clauses. Apparently having no relationship to anything related to covid. That bit a part of a big chunk of 'review' of previously published literature (literature review).

Publish or perish type of amateur meaninglessness. Seems they had hospital records and did a retrospective of fibro patients. Not even a higher BMI than the normals.