Evaluating the Effect of Delayed Diagnosis on Disease Outcome in Fibromyalgia: A Multi-Center Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background The impact of delayed diagnosis (DD) on fibromyalgia (FM) patients’ symptomatology and disease outcome has not yet been systematically studied. Objective To analyze the predictors of DD and the influence of DD on FM aggravation and disease evaluation measures. Methods 370 FM patients were interviewed prospectively for this study. The following information was obtained: DD, widespread pain index (WPI), symptom severity scale (SSS), polysymptomatic distress scale (PDS) scale (SSS + WPI), and tender points. We identified three groups of patients: early diagnosis (ED: 2 years; 83 patients), late diagnosis (LD: > 2–7 years; 198 patients), and very late diagnosis (VLD: > 7 years; 89 patients). Results The patients’ average age was 33.9 (9.8) years, and 79% were female. The SSS, PDS, and tender point means were 7.8 (1.6), 16.46 (4.1), and 14.31 (2.3), respectively. The correlation between DD and SSS (r = 0.14), the PDS scale (r = 0.37), and FM tender points (r = 0.16) was significant, but not with WPI (r = 0.06). When the three groups were examined, the SSS mean was 7.54 (1.6), 7.73 (1.4), and 8.25 (1.7), respectively (P 0.008), while the PDS mean was 15 (3.8), 15.95 (3.8), and 18.96 (4.4), respectively (P 0.008). (P 0.001). Conclusion Early FM diagnosis is associated with lower SSS, total severity scale, and FM tender points, indicating a less severe condition.

Comparative Analysis of Psychophysiological Responses in Fibromyalgia Patients: Evaluating Neuromodulation Alone, Neuromodulation Combined with Virtual Reality, and Exercise Interventions

“…Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain accompanied by fatigue, sleep disturbances, autonomic dysfunctions, cognitive impairments, hypersensitivity to external stimuli, and a range of somatic and psychiatric disorders [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]. Ranking as the third most prevalent musculoskeletal disorder after lumbar pain and osteoarthritis, its global prevalence is estimated at 2–3%, escalating to 4.7% within Western European nations [ 3 , 4 ].…”

“…Additionally, time since the diagnosis of fibromyalgia has been shown to significantly influence disease outcomes, affecting symptom severity, treatment response, and overall quality of life. Thus, early diagnosis and intervention could potentially modify the disease’s trajectory, highlighting the importance of timely and accurate identification of fibromyalgia to optimize patient management and improve prognostic outcomes [ 2 , 3 ].…”

The Fibromyalgia Decomposition Phenomenon: A Reflexive Thematic Analysis

“…This is, in part, a contributory factor towards high medical costs-patients express low satisfaction towards treatments and continue to seek alternatives, an ineffective use of healthcare resources [7]. Delayed diagnosis, and therefore treatment, is a common occurrence [28] and leads to a more developed and severe form of FM with missed opportunities and worse treatment outcomes [22,28]. Yet, clinicians remain apprehensive to take the leap into diagnostic territory for a multitude of reasons, one being the common misconception that the diagnosis needs to come from a medical subspecialist [2].…”