• L Lindell, S Bergman, I F Petersson, L T Jacobsson, and P Herrström.
• Primary Care Centre Hertig Knut, Halmstad, Sweden.
• Scand J Prim Health Care. 2000 Sep 1; 18 (3): 149-53.

ObjectiveTo explore the prevalence of fibromyalgia and chronic widespread musculoskeletal pain in a general population using the criteria of the American College of Rheumatology from 1990.DesignStructured interview and clinical examination, including tender-point count and pain threshold measured with a dolorimeter, of subjects with suspected chronic widespread musculoskeletal pain.SettingThe general population in south-west Sweden 1995-1996.Subjects303 individuals with suspected chronic widespread pain were identified in a previously defined cohort containing 2425 men and women aged 20-74 years. 202 individuals were invited and 147 agreed to participate.Main Outcome MeasuresTenderpoint count, pain threshold and prevalence of chronic widespread pain and fibromyalgia.ResultsThe prevalence of fibromyalgia was estimated to 1.3% (95% CI 0.8-1.7; n = 2425) and that of all chronic widespread pain to 4.2% (95% CI 3.4-5.0; n = 2425). The mean pain threshold measured with a dolorimeter was lower in subjects with chronic widespread pain (p < 0.01) and correlated with the number of tender points (r = -0.59, p < 0.01) but could not be used to distinguish the subjects with fibromyalgia.ConclusionCompared to other studies, fibromyalgia and chronic widespread musculoskeletal pain seemed to be relatively rare conditions in the south-west of Sweden.

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