Citation: Martinez JE and Pironel AN. Does the Revised Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire Correlates with the
Patient’s Opinion for the Monitoring of Fibromyalgia Syndrome?. Austin Rheumatol. 2016; 1(1): 1001.
Austin Rheumatol - Volume 1 Issue 1 - 2016
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Abstract
Introduction: Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic widespread musculoskeletal
pain syndrome with cognitive, emotional and social impact. The clinical picture
consists mainly of subjective symptoms. Therefore, questionnaires to assess
its impact and the ones to evaluate quality of life have become useful tools to
monitor this syndrome. The revised Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQr) is
a speciic questionnaire that has been used in published clinical studies.
Objective: To evaluate the usefulness of FIQr for monitoring patients
compared to their own opinion.
Methods: It was studied 21 patients treated at the Outpatient Clinics Setting
of the Pontiical Catholic University of Sao Paulo. Patients fulilled the 1990
American College of Rheumatology Classiication Criteria for Fibromyalgia. It
was applied the FIQr and a Likert scale on patient’s opinion regarding their
evolution. It was considered a clinical state change when the FIQr scores
ranged 20% up or down. Descriptive statistics were used.
Results: Nineteen percent of patients (19.04%) agreed on the evolution to
the variation observed in FIQr. Conclusion: It was concluded that the patient’s
opinion about their evolution and FIQr measure different variables. The FIQr
is a comprehensive tool that addresses issues that cannot be valued in the
subjective assessment of the patient in the same proportion. So, it seems
important the simultaneous use of both instruments.
Keywords: Fibromyalgia; Clinical Evolution; The Fibromyalgia Impact
Questionnaire
lower vitality and worst integration on society. he association with
depression and anxiety can be an important aggravating factor [5,6].
he use of questionnaires to measure the impact of the disease has
been recognized as an important tool in medical practice. hey allow
a valid assessment of FM subjective symptoms and their impact [5-7].
heir use also allows approaching a new theory that poses FM as a
continuous and not a discrete clinical entity.
In 1991, Burckhardt et al published a speciic instrument for
assessing FM called he Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire”
(FIQ). It was translated and validated in Brazil in 2006 [7,8]. his
questionnaire is composed by three main dimensions: functional
capacity, occupational and symptoms severity [7]. It ranges from 0 to
100 where 100 is the worst possible scenario [7].
In 2009, a new version of the same questionnaire, entitled
“Revised Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire” (FIQr) was published.
It was translated, culturally adapted and validated to Brazil by the
Commission for ibromyalgia, pain and other sot tissue injuries of
the Brazilian Society of Rheumatology [9]. Although it was very well
accepted by the FM researches, one question persists. Can the FIQ
replace patient’s own opinion about his/her evolution as a parameter
to change the therapeutic planning?.
Introduction
Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic generalized musculoskeletal pain
syndrome present in 3 to 5 % of the global population. he other core
symptoms are fatigue and non-restorative sleep. his clinical picture
is oten associated with other functional syndromes such as migraine,
miofascial pain syndrome and irritable bowel syndrome [1,2].
Although, its complete etiopathogeny is unknown, the most
frequently proposed mechanism of disease involves central pain
processing disturbance with central sensitization and a chronic
distress process [3].
he scientiic literature on this syndrome had a major increase
ater the publication of the Classiication Criteria for Fibromyalgia
of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) in 1990. It
establishes that a patient to be included in researches shall present
with widespread pain according to a speciic deinition for more than
3 months and also 11 of 18 speciic tender points on palpation [2].
he impact of FM on quality of life has been recognized in the
literature as an important feature at the patient’s lives since the
syndrome description [4]. his impact is generated by the symptoms
intensity, mainly pain and fatigue and the interference on patient’s
ability to perform daily life activities. It also causes work limitation,
Research Article
Does the Revised Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire
Correlates with the Patient’s Opinion for the Monitoring
of Fibromyalgia Syndrome?
Martinez JE* and Pironel AN
Department of Medicine, Pontiical Catholic University of
Sao Paulo, Sorocaba, Brazil
*Corresponding author: José Eduardo Martinez,
Department of Medicine, Pontiical Catholic University of
Sao Paulo, Street Portugal, 63 Sorocaba, SP CEP 18045-
280, Brazil
Received: October 13, 2016; Accepted: November 03,
2016; Published: November 05, 2016