Clinical impact of nociplastic symptom burden in individuals with fibromyalgia syndrome.

INTRODUCTION

The clinical impact of nociplastic pain symptoms has not yet been sufficiently investigated.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to examine the associations between nociplastic symptoms and pain intensity, disease severity, quality of life, and pain catastrophising in individuals with fibromyalgia (FM).

METHODS

This study was designed as an observational study and was conducted with 65 individuals with FM. Hypersensitivity and comorbidity symptoms were verbally assessed in individuals with FM, and the number of symptoms was recorded. Pain intensity, disease severity, quality of life, and pain catastrophizing level were assessed using clinic scales. Associations between nociplastic symptom burden and clinical outcomes were evaluated using correlation analyses, one-way ANOVA with Bonferroni post hoc tests and ANCOVA adjusted for relevant covariates.

RESULTS

Nociplastic symptoms were significantly associated with disease severity (p < 0.001; η2p = 0.256), quality of life (p < 0.001; η2p = 0.220), and pain catastrophising levels (p = 0.003; η2p = 0.162) and there were significant differences between groups in these parameters in individuals with FM.

CONCLUSION

An increased burden of nociplastic symptoms in individuals with FM was associated with greater disease severity and higher levels of pain catastrophising, whereas quality of life was reduced.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: www.clinicaltrials.gov identifier is NCT05941780.