Fibromyalgia-related issues extend to the gut

The severity scores of dyspepsia symptoms and dyspepsia-related quality of life disturbance are higher in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) than in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and in healthy persons. The greater GI symptom severity in patients with FMS might have a negative effect on their quality of life.

Pamuk and coworkers examined functional dyspepsia and its effect on quality of life in 152 women with FMS, 98 with RA, and 60 healthy controls. They were asked about chronic widespread pain, FMS symptoms, GI disturbances, and anxiety/depression.

GI symptoms (eg, belching, reflux, bloating) were the worst in the women with FMS and affected their quality of life the most. Self-reported constipation was at least twice as common in women with FMS or RA than in controls. However, the frequency of symptom-based constipation was higher in the RA group than in the FMS or control group. The FMS group reported more anxiety and depression than others; dyspepsia-related quality of life disturbance was independently associated with anxiety and depression.

The authors noted that patients with FMS should be questioned about GI symptoms and that they should be taken into consideration.