Session Information
Date: Monday, November 9, 2015
Title: Quality Measures and Quality of Care Poster Session (ARHP): Clinical Practice/Patient Care
Session Type: ACR Poster Session B
Session Time: 9:00AM-11:00AM
Background/Purpose: Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) patients taking a greater number of medications may identify those with a more challenging clinical course.
Methods: We evaluated patients at their initial rheumatology office visit to determine the number of medications they were taking for pain and other fibromyalgia symptoms, and later outcome based on HAQ scores for functional ability as well as visual analogue scales (VAS) for pain, fatigue, concentration and general health.
Results: The mean number of medications taken for fibromyalgia symptoms was 5.23, range 0-23. The mean number of non-prescription medication such as dietary supplements and over-the-counter drugs was 2.12, with a range of 0-10.
Conclusion: Those patients taking more prescription for their fibromyalgia symptoms at their initial office visit tended to have a worse clinical course, evidenced by higher HAQ scores, poor general health, and more pain and fatigue. Those FMS patients may be more difficult to care for.
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
Katz RS, Katz Small A, Leavitt H. Patients Who Take Many Medications for Their Fibromyalgia Symptoms at the Initial Office Visit Tend to Have a Worse Clinical Course [abstract]. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2015; 67 (suppl 10). https://acrabstracts.org/abstract/patients-who-take-many-medications-for-their-fibromyalgia-symptoms-at-the-initial-office-visit-tend-to-have-a-worse-clinical-course/. Accessed .« Back to 2015 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting
ACR Meeting Abstracts - https://acrabstracts.org/abstract/patients-who-take-many-medications-for-their-fibromyalgia-symptoms-at-the-initial-office-visit-tend-to-have-a-worse-clinical-course/