The hidden burden of fibromyalgia: exploring work impairment and quality of life in caregivers.

Abstract

Objectives: Fibromyalgia (FM) syndrome is a chronic musculoskeletal disorder that profoundly impacts not only patients but also their informal caregivers, affecting their quality of life and work productivity. This study aims to investigate the impact of FM on the work productivity and quality of life of informal caregivers.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included FM patients who applied to our Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation clinic and their informal caregivers. FM was diagnosed using the revised 2016 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria. A healthy control group and their cohabiting relatives were also included. FM patients completed the Revised Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQR), while caregivers and control group relatives completed the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire-General Health (WPAI-GH) and the World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale-Short Form (WHOQoL-BREF).

Results: The study included 68 FM caregivers and 68 control group relatives. WPAI scores revealed significant differences in presenteeism, overall work productivity loss, and activity impairment between FM caregivers and controls (p<0.05), though no difference in absenteeism was observed. WHOQoL-BREF scores showed significant reductions across all quality-of-life domains for FM caregivers compared to controls, with a notable correlation between the FIQR scores of FM patients and the social relationships domain of their caregivers (p=0.026, r=-0.269).

Conclusions: FM poses substantial burdens on both patients and their informal caregivers, reducing caregivers' work productivity and quality of life. Given the chronic nature of FM and the resulting long-term caregiving responsibilities, interventions that support both patients and caregivers, such as integrated healthcare and psychotherapy, may be beneficial. Further longitudinal studies are needed to examine these effects over time and support the development of comprehensive caregiver support strategies.