Fibromyalgia and associated factors in patients with axial spondyloarthritis: The effect of fibromyalgia on disease activity

Introduction/Objective

The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency of fibromyalgia (FM) in axial spondyloarthritis (ax-SpA) patients using the current FM diagnostic criteria (2016 Revised Fibromyalgia Diagnostic Criteria). Additionally, we aimed to investigate the relationship between FM severity and disease activity, functional status, and quality of life (QoL).

Materials and methods

Disease activity, functional disability and QoL were evaluated. FM severity was measured with the fibromyalgia impact questionnaire (FIQ).

Results

One hundred and three patients with ax-SpA (55.3% female; mean age 44 ± 10.85 years) were included. FM was detected in 49.5% of the patients. While FM was detected in 71% of patients with a history of peripheral arthritis, FM was present in 59.2% of patients without (p = 0.009). FM-ax-SpA patients showed higher disease activity except for C-reactive protein; functional status and QoL were statistically worse in patients with FM-SpA. Significant positive correlations were found between FIQ and disease activity, functional disability and QoL (p < .001).

Conclusions

The most effective features associated with the presence of FM were detected as gender and a history of peripheral arthritis. Presence of FM may cause an overestimation of disease activity, FM severity correlates with disease activity.