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The Fibromyalgia Bladder Index in 100 consecutive women with fibromyalgia

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Abstract

Introduction and hypothesis

The Fibromyalgia Bladder Index (FBI) is a validated instrument to quantify bothersome bladder symptoms specifically in women with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS). The FBI includes two sub-scales: one addressing urinary urgency and bladder pain (UP), the other addressing urinary frequency and nocturia (FN). The objectives of this study are to evaluate the FBI in a cohort of patients with FMS, to correlate it with certain characteristics in this cohort, and to compare it with controls.

Methods

We performed a case–control study of 100 women with FMS and 155 controls. Demographic data, comorbidities, and other characteristics were registered. Comparison between FBI scores of participants with and without FMS, as well as correlation of FBI scores with the characteristics of FMS patients, were undertaken using independent two-sample t test for continuous outcomes and Pearson’s Chi-squared test for categorical outcomes.

Results

The mean UP subscale score of the FBI was significantly higher in the FMS group (10.29 ± 5.61) compared with the controls (1.65 ± 2.65; (p = 0.001). The mean FN subscale score was significantly higher in the FMS group (9.93 ± 5.37) compared with the controls (2.95 ± 3.27; p = 0.001). FMS patients diagnosed >3 years ago had a higher UP subscale score and a higher FN subscale score compared with FMS patients diagnosed <3 years ago (p = 0.020 and p = 0.024 respectively). Menopause and parity significantly increased the FBI scores. Smoking and a history of depression did not significantly affect any of the FBI subscale scores in the FMS group.

Conclusion

Women with FMS suffer from bothersome bladder symptoms that can be readily identified and quantified.

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Abbreviations

BMI:

Body mass index

FBI:

Fibromyalgia Bladder Index

FMS:

Fibromyalgia syndrome

OS:

O’Leary–Sant

PBS/IC:

Painful bladder syndrome/interstitial cystitis

PBS:

Painful bladder syndrome

UP:

Urinary urgency and bladder pain

FN:

Frequency and nocturia

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Author information

Author notes

  1. Nouran Hamed and Mohamad Ali Rida contributed equally to the manuscript

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, American University of Beirut Medical Center, P.O. Box 11-0236, Riad El-Solh, Beirut, 110-72020, Lebanon

    Nouran Hamed, Lina El Taha & Tony Bazi

  2. Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon

    Mohamad Ali Rida & Imad Uthman

  3. American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon

    Mariam Assad

  4. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hôpital Simone Veil, 14 rue de Saint Prix, Eaubonne, France

    Elie Mikhael

Authors
  1. Nouran Hamed
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  2. Mohamad Ali Rida
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  3. Imad Uthman
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  4. Lina El Taha
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  5. Mariam Assad
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Contributions

NH: protocol development, literature search, data collection, and manuscript review; MAR: protocol development, literature search, data collection, and manuscript review; IU: protocol development, literature search, data collection, and manuscript review; LET: statistical analysis and manuscript review; MA: data collection, statistical analysis, and manuscript review; EM: protocol development, literature search, and manuscript review; TB: study design, literature search, and manuscript writing, editing, and submission.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Tony Bazi.

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The study was conducted after securing the local IRB approval

Appendix

Appendix

lnterstitial Cystitis Symptom Index

Interstitial Cystitis Problem Index

Q 1. During the past month, how often have you felt the strong need to urinate with little or no warning?

During the past month, how much has each of the following been a problem for you?

0 : not at all

Ql. Frequent urination during the day?

l: less than 1 time in 5

0: no problem

2: less than half the time

1: very small problem

3: about half the time

2: small problem

4: more than half the time

3: medium problem

5: almost always

4: big problem

Q2. During the past month, have you had to urinate less than 2 h after you finished urinating?

Q2. Getting up at night to urinate?

0: not at all

: no problem

l: less than 1 time in 5

1: very small problem

2: less than half the time

2: small problem

3: about half the time

3: medium problem

4: more than half the time

4: big problem

5: almost always

Q3. Need to urinate with little warning?

Q3. During the past month, how often did you most typically get up at night to urinate?

0: no problem

0: none

1: very small problem

1: once

2: small problem

2: 2 times

3: medium problem

3: 3 times

4: big problem

4: 4 times

Q4. Burning, pain, discomfort, or pressure in your bladder?

5: 5 or more times

0: no problem

Q4. During the past month, have you experienced pain or burning in your bladder?

l: very small problem

0: not at all

2: small problem

2: a few times

3: medium problem

3: almost always

4: big problem

4: fairly often

Add the numerical values of the checked entries for the total score

5: usually

 

Add the numerical values of the checked entries for the total score

 

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Hamed, N., Rida, M.A., Uthman, I. et al. The Fibromyalgia Bladder Index in 100 consecutive women with fibromyalgia. Int Urogynecol J 31, 1883–1889 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-019-04199-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-019-04199-y

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