Correlation between demographic and clinical variables and fibromyalgia severity

AbstractIntroductionFibromyalgia (FM) is a rheumatic condition characterized by a picture of gener- alized chronic pain, hyperalgesia, and allodynia. Symptoms such as fatigue, sleep disorders, morning stiffness, headache, and paresthesia can also be present. It is also associated with other comorbidities, such as depression, anxiety, irritable bowel syndrome, myofascial pain syndrome, and nonspecific urethral syndrome. Few studies have addressed the evolution of FM, especially regarding medium- and long-term evolution, such as why some patients fare better than others, despite being submitted to the same treatment.ObjectiveTo determine whether there is a correlation between demographic and clinical variables and FM severity.Material and methodsSixty women who met the 1990 FM classification criteria of the Ameri- can College of Rheumatology were divided into three groups, according to the severity es- tablished by the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ): mild (0 to 50), moderate (50 to 70), and severe (70-100).ResultsNine demographic and clinical variables were assessed; a significant difference (p < 0.05) was observed only in the groups showing higher FIQ scores with the presence of depression and workers’ compensation interests.ConclusionThe impact of FM measured by the FIQ is directly correlated with the severity of depression and the presence of workers’ compensation interests