exudates and Fibromyalgia

To assess the nature and extent of rheumatic complaints in a semirural area in a multiracial (Malay, Indian, Chinese) community in Malaysia using the Community Oriented Program for the Control of Rheumatic Diseases (COPCORD) protocol initiated by ILAR and the WHO.. All members of a community of 2700 persons over the age of 15 years were offered a questionnaire based interview in Phase 1 of the study. Those with rheumatic complaints (pain in the last 1 week) were invited for a physical examination by a rheumatologist in Phase 2.. In total, 2594 (96%) persons agreed to a questionnaire based interview. Of those interviewed, 21.1% had a current rheumatic complaint. The pain rate was higher in women (23.8%) than in men (17.8%). Chinese men had the lowest age-standardized pain rate (9.9%), while Indian women had the highest rate (28.4%). In the study population, 14.4% complained of pain in the joints and/or musculoskeletal pain and 11.6% had low back pain. The knee was responsible for 64.8% of all complaints pertaining to the joints, and more than half those examined with knee pain had clinical evidence of osteoarthritis (OA). The complaint rate increased with age, up to 53.4% in the group age > 65 years. The major disability encountered was the inability to squat (3.1%). Fibromyalgia, soft tissue lesions, and localized OA of the knees were the main clinical diagnoses. Inflammatory arthritis was uncommon. Both Western and traditional sources of healthcare were used, often together. Self-medication was common (58.8%).. Knee and back pain are the main rheumatic complaints in Malaysia, with complaint rates differing according to race and gender.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Age Factors; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Arthralgia; Back Pain; China; Female; Fibromyalgia; Health Surveys; Humans; India; Knee Joint; Malaysia; Male; Middle Aged; Occupations; Osteoarthritis, Knee; Racial Groups; Sex Factors

Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a common but controversial condition. There appears to be different levels of belief of its existence and awareness. We set out to explore the variations of perceptions and awareness of this condition among rheumatologists from Malaysia and Singapore.. 48 rheumatologists from Malaysia (28) and Singapore (20) were approached to participate in this survey by answering a specific questionnaire regarding their belief in FMS. 23 respondents from Malaysia and 20 from Singapore completed the questionnaire.. 91 percent of Malaysian rheumatologists and 95 percent of the Singaporean believe that FMS is a distinct clinical entity and that this condition is considered an illness rather than a disease. 87 percent and 90 percent of rheumatologists from Malaysia and Singapore, respectively, believe that FMS is a mixture of medical and psychological illness. However, not many of those in the university setting include FMS in their undergraduate teaching. 87 percent and 80 percent of the respondents from Malaysia and Singapore, respectively, also ordered blood tests to exclude other serious pathologies, and 100 percent of the respondents from both countries also prescribed some form of drugs to their FMS patients.. This study confirmed that there was a variation of perceptions and knowledge of FMS among rheumatologists from Malaysia and Singapore. The majority of rheumatologists recognise that FMS is a distinct clinical entity, and is diagnosed by excluding other well-defined clinical diseases through a combination of clinical evaluation and screening tests.

Topics: Awareness; Fibromyalgia; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Humans; Malaysia; Perception; Practice Patterns, Physicians'; Rheumatology; Singapore; Surveys and Questionnaires; Syndrome