Fibromyalgia & musculoskeletal pain
Optimising fibromyalgia criteria: evidence from the UK Biobank
Authors' conclusion
In this large population-based study, simplified criteria incorporating a single question on widespread pain and easier-to-apply symptom cut-offs performed marginally better in identifying those with a diagnosis of FM.
Study context
- Population
- UK Biobank participants who completed an "Experience of Pain" online questionnaireUK Biobank
- Participants
- 167,184 participants
- Comparison
- FM2016 criteria vs simplified criteria for identifying self-reported FM
- Outcome
- Performance in identifying individuals with self-reported FM (sensitivity, specificity, CUI+ and CUI-)
Methodological detailspopulation-based, logistic regression, clinical utility indices (CUI+ and CUI-)
- Population-based
- Logistic regression
- Clinical utility indices (CUI+ and CUI-)
Performance
As reported in the abstract
Identification of self-reported FM
| Test or model | Specificity | Sensitivity | CUI+ | CUI- |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FM2016 | 98.4 % | 37.0 % | 0.111 | |
| Simplified criteria | 0.163 | 0.974 |
Specificity
FM201698.4 %
Simplified criteria— not stated in the abstract
Sensitivity
FM201637.0 %
Simplified criteria— not stated in the abstract
CUI+
FM20160.111
Simplified criteria0.163
CUI-
FM2016— not stated in the abstract
Simplified criteria0.974
Further findings
- Other definitions of widespread pain performed less well
Original publication
Optimising fibromyalgia criteria: evidence from the UK Biobank. Semin Arthritis Rheum. Published 28 August 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →