Widespread body pain is associated with increased risk of death in the long term

People who initially report widespread body pain have a 31% increase in mortality over the subsequent eight years. In a prospective study of over 6000 people, Macfarlane and colleagues (p 662) found that the excess mortality was mainly the result of an excess in deaths from cancer. Widespread body pain, seen in fibromyalgia, is common. An organic basis for the symptoms is found only in a few people. Previous clinic and population studies have shown that symptoms are commonly persistent, though little is known about the long term outcome and, in particular, whether there is any link with mortality. This observation has potential implications for the long term follow up of patients with unexplained pain.

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Widespread body pain and mortality: prospective population based study • Commentary: An interesting finding, but what does it mean?

Gary J Macfarlane, John McBeth, Alan J Silman, and I K Crombie
BMJ 2001 323: 662. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]