Global Health
Trends in the 14-Year Incidence of Fibromyalgia with Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Nationwide Descriptive Study in Taiwan Yu-Lan Tsou* Yu-Lan Tsou Fu-Huang Lin Chien-An Sun Yu-Ching Chou
Trends in the 14-Year Incidence of Fibromyalgia with Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Nationwide Descriptive Study in Taiwan
Yu-Lan Tsou1, Fu-Huang Lin1, Chien-An Sun2, Yu-Ching Chou1*
1School of Public Health, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, 2Department of Public Health, College of Medicine, Fu-Jen Catholic University, New Taipei City, Taiwan
*Corresponding author: trishow@mail.ndmctsgh.edu.tw
Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and fibromyalgia (FM) significantly affect quality of life. OSA involves sleep fragmentation, while FM is characterized by widespread pain and fatigue. Long-term studies on FM trends in OSA patients are scarce.This cohort study analyzed 14-year trends (2000–2013) in OSA and FM incidence using Taiwan’s NHIRD.
Methods: This cohort study analyzed 14-year trends (2000–2013) in the incidence of OSA and FM using Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Database (NHIRD). We identified 14,046 new OSA cases and evaluated incidence rates across sex, age groups, and time periods using chi-square tests and linear trend analysis.
Results: The incidence of OSA significantly increased from 4.42 to 17.34 per 100,000 men and from 1.57 to 7.26 per 100,000 women between 2000 and 2013, while its prevalence nearly tripled, rising from 2.85 to 7.73 per 100,000. Among OSA patients, the incidence of FM rose from 21.01 to 80.27 per 1,000 men and from 28.85 to 72.82 per 1,000 women, representing a 3.82-fold increase in men and a 2.52-fold increase in women. FM incidence peaked at 43.92 per 1,000 person-years in the 30–40 years age group (P trend < 0.001), with smaller variations in other age groups: 39.32 (20–30 years), 42.03 (40–50 years), 39.49 (50–60 years, lowest), and 40.72 (≥60 years). Additionally, FM incidence increased with the frequency of OSA visits, rising from 40.41 per 1,000 for ≤2 visits to 44.64 per 1,000 for ≥6 visits (P trend < 0.001).
Conclusion: Over 14 years, OSA incidence and prevalence grew significantly, with a notable increase in FM incidence among OSA patients, especially in younger groups and those with frequent healthcare visits. These findings call for further research on the OSA-FM relationship and integrated strategies to manage their co-occurrence.
Keywords: Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), Fibromyalgia (FM),National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD), Incidence, prevalence.