Fibromyalgia & musculoskeletal pain
Adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on fibromyalgia patients in Germany: a longitudinal investigation including pre-pandemic data of pain and health-related outcomes
Study context
- Population
- Individuals with fibromyalgia (FM) in Germany, assessed before (T1) and during (T2) the COVID-19 pandemic
- Participants
- 109 individuals
- Outcome
- Longitudinal changes in pain severity, disability, FM impact, depressive mood; self-perceived changes in pain, anxiety, depression and physical activity due to the pandemic
- Follow-up
- T1-T2
Methodological detailspre-test/post-test design with pre-pandemic comparative data
- Pre-test/post-test design with pre-pandemic comparative data
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Self-perceived and longitudinal changes during the pandemic
- Significant self-perceived worsening of pain, depressive mood, anxiety and reduced physical activity due to the pandemic
- Self-perceived changes not reflected in longitudinal increases of test values (T1-T2)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Predictors of T2 pain severity
- T1 pain severity the strongest predictor of T2 pain severity
- COVID-related fear the only significant COVID-related predictor of T2 pain
Predictors of self-perceived worsening of pain
- General perceived negative impact of the pandemic the only predictor
Longitudinal worsening of pain by pre-pandemic pain severity
- Patients with less severe pre-pandemic pain showed greater longitudinal worsening of pain
Original publication
Adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on fibromyalgia patients in Germany: a longitudinal investigation including pre-pandemic data of pain and health-related outcomes. Clin Exp Rheumatol. Published 28 June 2023. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →