Objectives:
Fibromyalgia (FM) is a complex syndrome that is characterized by lasting and diffuse chronic musculoskeletal pain, derived from non-inflammatory causes and classically associated with the presence of specific tender points. However, studies have highlighted other important symptoms associated with a lower quality of life (QOL) in FM, such as sleep disturbances and alexithymia. This study aimed to investigate the pain, sleep and alexithymia patterns of FM patients treated in a Brazilian tertiary center.
Methods:
20 patients with FM who were followed-up in the Rheumatology outpatient clinic of a Brazilian tertiary center (Faculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto - FAMERP, São Paulo, Brazil) and 20 patients without FM from other outpatient services of the FAMERP completed a clinical and socio-demographic questionnaire, the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) and the SF-36 (WHOQOL).
Results:
The patients with FM presented worse performances in all QOL dimensions of the SF-36 and higher scores on the PSQI (p = 0.01), and the TAS-20 (p = 0.02). Patients with FM also scored significantly higher in all specific domains of PSQI and TAS-20.
Discussion:
The present data were in accordance with literature, disclosing a worse performance of patients with FM on pain impact, sleep complains and more presence of alexithymia.
Conclusion:
Studies have disclosed the presence of important and frequently underdiagnosed symptoms beyond pain complaints in FM, such as sleep complaints and alexithymia, and a better knowledge of such disturbances might improve FM patients' approach and treatment.
Fibromyalgia; Sleep complaints; Quality of life; Alexithymia; Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index; Toronto Alexithymia Scale