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Working women with fibromyalgia reported better health than patients who did not work
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Women with fibromyalgia who worked reported better health than nonworking women with fibromyalgia, although each cohort was impaired equally in physical capacity, according to study results.
Researchers in Sweden evaluated 129 women of working age (mean age, 45.7 years) with fibromyalgia (FM; mean duration of symptoms, 10.5 years). There were 76 nonworking women (NNW) who received disability benefits. The working women (WW) cohort (n=53) included 13 full-time, working 80%-100%; 13 part-time, working less than 50%; 17 part-time, working 50%; and 10 part-time, working 50%-75%. Thirty-seven part-time workers received disability benefits and three did not. The cross-sectional study included clinical assessment, interviews, questionnaires and performance-based tests.
Under results of the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), WW presented better health than NWW in body function ratings (FIQ pain, P<.001; FIQ fatigue, P=.006; FIQ stiffness, P=.009; and HADS-Depression, P=.007). WW also reported significantly better ratings of overall health status compared with NWW (FIQ total, eight-item, P=.001; and Short-Form 36 PCS, P<.001). In tests of physical capacity, there were no significant differences discovered between groups. Using stepwise logistic regression analysis, FIQ pain was statistically significant to independently explain work (OR=0.95; 95% CI, 0.93-0.98).
“Working women with FM reported better health than nonworking women with FM in terms of pain, fatigue, stiffness, depression, disease-specific health status and physical aspects of quality of life,” the researchers concluded. “Moderate pain levels were compatible with work, while severe pain appeared to compromise work. Fatigue was better tolerated, as women scoring severe levels of fatigue worked.”
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