Background/Purpose:

To determine the prevalence and characteristics of fibromyalgia  patients who are prescribed opiod drugs.

Methods:

Consecutive patients who met the ACR 1990 criteria for fibromyalgia, seen  in a tertiary care center, were dichotomized based on current prescription of opioid drugs (yes/no). Demographic and clinical data were compared. The following questionnaires were used: fibromyalgia impact questionnaire (FIQ), patient health questionnaire (PHQ-9), health assessment questionnaire disability index (HAQ-DI).

Results:

Of 240 patients 38.3% were prescribed opioid medications. Patients who were prescribed opiates as treatment, compared to those who were not,  had significantly  (p≤0.05) lower employment rates 31.5% vs 48.6%, were less college educated 23.4% vs 41.7%, had higher pain scores, FIQ pain 8.2 (1.7) vs 7.3 (2.1),  depression  PHQ-9 13.2 (6.3) vs 11.5 96.1), disability HAQ DI 1.4 (0.5) vs 1 (0.6), and reported severe fibromyalgia impact,  FIQ 73.1 (15.1) vs 64.8 (18.3). They were also taking more medications for fibromyalgia 4.8 (1.9) vs 2.1 (1.8), had more surgeries 5.1 (3.9) vs 3.2 (3), and more doctor visits in the past 6 months 11.9 (11.5) vs 7.7 (8.4).

Conclusion:

Opioid use identifies about 1/3^rd of tertiary care FM patients, a group with low socioeconomic status, and high use of medical resources. Our study suggests that clinicians prescribe opiates for FM patients who have severe disease, despite taking other drugs for FM. The high pain scores reported at the time of taking narcotic medications also raise questions about the benefit of prescribing these drugs in FM.

« Back to 2015 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting

ACR Meeting Abstracts - https://acrabstracts.org/abstract/low-socioeconomic-status-high-disability-rates-and-increased-use-of-health-care-resources-in-fibromyalgia-patients-taking-narcotics/