Awareness and misconceptions about fibromyalgia among residents of Makkah Region, Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study

Objective: This study aimed to explore the awareness and misconceptions about fibromyalgia (FM) among residents of the Makkah region, Saudi Arabia. Methods: From January 2025 to June 2025, a cross-sectional study was conducted including residents of the Makkah region, Saudi Arabia, aged 18 years and older. The participants were selected from various community centers and public areas using a convenience sampling technique. Results: The study surveyed 395 adults, mainly Saudi (n = 328, 83%), females (n = 218, 55.2%), married (n = 234, 59.2%), and employed (n = 210, 53.2%). FM awareness was moderate, with 189 participants (47.8%) having heard of it, primarily through the Internet (46.3%). However, only 113 (28.6%) knew the diagnostic criteria. Misconceptions were common, with only 76 (19.2%) correctly identifying FM as a non-inflammatory disease. Awareness correlations showed that knowing someone with FM significantly improved awareness (p-value = 0.001), and younger participants were more aware than older ones (p-value = 0.019). Conclusion: This study revealed moderate awareness of FM among Makkah residents, with significant misconceptions about its nature. Awareness was higher in younger individuals and those with fibromyalgia, highlighting the need for targeted education efforts.