Avaliação de parâmetros clínicos de pacientes com fibromialgia após 5 anos de evolução

Abstract

Fibromyalgia is a syndrome of unknown etiology characterized by diffuse pain and presence of tender points on digital palpation. In 1995, it was published, by our group, a clinical study showing that fibromyalgia causes a negative impact on patient’s quality of life. In certain ways, this impact is similar to the one caused by rheumatoid arthritis. The main purpose of the present study is to evaluate the same patients after 5 years of evolution. Methods: It was made a phone interview which included questions about evolution, numerical analogic scales of pain, fatigue, depression and anxiety (0 – 10) and the disability scale of the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ). The scores were compared to the ones of the 1995 study by the Wilcoxon test. Patients: It was studied 18 female patients, who had participated in the 1995 survey. All patients then fullfilled the American College of Rheumatology Criteria for Classification of Fibromyalgia. Results: Ten patients referred to be better, 3 worst and 5 unchanged. Twelve patients keep on treatment and 6 patients are not on treatment at all. The scores of the scales applied in 1995 and now are respectively: Numerical Pain Scale: 5,72 – 5,77; Numerical Fatigue Scale: 4,66 – 5,70; Numerical Depression Scale: 5,50 – 5,22; Numerical Anxiety Scale: 6,61 – 3,72; and HAQ: 0,75 – 1,08. The statistical analysis showed significant difference just on the Anxiety Scale. Conclusion: We concluded that fibromyalgia has a stable course at the clinical and physical capacity parameters used at this study, although most patients referred being better. Anxiety scores improved probably by the better knowledge of patients about this syndrome. Patients, opinion could be influenced by the improvement on anxiety.