Use of the SS Scale, FIQR, and FIQ VASs for assessment of symptom severity in Egyptian fibromyalgia patients

Abstract

Background Fibromyalgia (FM) is a complex syndrome associated with significant impairment in the quality of life and function. The ability to evaluate and measure the severity of FM is likely to provide several benefits. Objective This study aimed to assess symptom severity in Egyptian FM patients using the Symptom Severity Scale (SS Scale), Revised Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQR), and Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire Visual Analog Scales (FIQ VASs). Patients and methods Twenty-four female patients who fulfilled the ACR-2010 criteria of FM were included in the present study. The SS Scale, FIQR, and FIQ VASs were used to assess symptom severity of FM. Results The respective mean of the SS Scale, FIQR, and FIQ VASs were 7.3 ± 2.4, 52.9 ± 22.1, and 39.3 ± 14.2, and they were positively correlated with measure of pain distribution [widespread pain index (WPI)] in our patients. The SS Scale, WPI, FIQR, and FIQ VASs scores were positively correlated with many regional pain distribution sites (upper arm pain and jaw pain at most) and somatic pain symptoms (central nervous system symptoms, musculoskeletal symptoms, otological and hypersensitivity symptoms). The high scores of the SS Scale, FIQR, and FIQ VASs and their positive correlations with most of the regional pain sites and distribution and somatic symptoms indicate the severity of symptoms in the studied population. The FIQ VAS was the only significant independent determinant of FM severity (P < 0.001) in backward/stepwise multiple linear regression models. Conclusion The SS Scale of the ACR-2010 criteria, FIQR, and FIQ VASs were excellent methods for assessment of symptom severity in our Egyptian FM patients.

Keywords

• bibromyalgia impact questionnaire visual analogue scales, fibromyalgia, revised fibromyalgia impact questionnaire, symptom severity scale