Younger fibromyalgia patients had worse symptoms than older patients

SAN DIEGO — Young and middle-aged patients with fibromyalgia experienced poorer quality of life and worse symptoms than older patients, according to research presented at the American College of Rheumatology annual meeting.

Researchers at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn., studied 978 patients (mean age, 48.6 years) with fibromyalgia and divided them into three groups: young (aged 39 years and younger; n=233), middle-aged (aged 40 to 59 years; n=560) and older (aged 60 years and older; n=185). All completed the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) and Short Form-36 Health Status Questionnaire (SF-36).

Using normative data from the US female general population, a standardization of the SF-36 physical and mental component summaries of female patients was made. To detect age-group differences, one-way ANOVA and post hoc pairwise t test analyses were conducted.

Compared with older patients, young or middle-aged patients with fibromyalgia were more likely to be unmarried, employed and current smokers, had a higher education level and more abuse history, a lower body mass index and a shorter symptom duration. Young and middle-aged patients had worse fibromyalgia symptoms in the FIQ total score and all subscales except for anxiety (Ps≤.014). Quality of life (QoL) and SF-36 general health perceptions, vitality, social functioning and mental health index were worse for young and middle-aged patients compared with older patients (Ps<.001).

Patients in all three groups experienced lower QoL in physical and mental health, with a more prominent reduction in physical health, when compared with the U.S. female population in general, researcher Terry H. Oh, MD, physical medicine and rehabilitation physician at Mayo Clinic, said in a press release. This was particularly true among younger patients.

“[For patients with fibromyalgia], we recommend a really low-impact, graded exercise program because they often do have difficulty engaging in exercise programs,” Oh told Healio.com. “It can be challenging for them to do exercise due to their chronic pain and fatigue, so it is important that we provide a patient-tailored exercise program, and to start gradually and at low intensity.

“They could start walking, maybe just 5 minutes, or do water exercise and start for a short time at low intensity and gradually increase duration and intensity. And, consider exercise like medication; their body has to get used to the exercise.”

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.

For more information:

Jiao J. Abstract 132. Relation of Age with Symptom Severity and Quality of Life in Patients with Fibromyalgia. Presented at: the 2013 American College of Rheumatology Annual Meeting; Oct. 26-30, San Diego.