Presented at the 2012 AAPM Annual Meeting « Back

Quantifying Risk Factors and Quality of Life Measures in Fibromyalgia Using the CDC's Behavioral and Risk Factor Surveillance System

Fahad Khan, MD MHS, mfk231@nyumc.org¹, Michel Dubois, MD², (1) NYU Langone Medical Center, New York, New York, (2) NYU Pain Center, New York, New York

Introduction: Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition affecting 3–5 million people in the United States. It is characterized by chronic widespread pain, hyperalgesia, allodynia, and chronic fatigue. While the etiology of the disease has often been linked to infection, trauma, metabolic derangements, and genetic predisposition, a clear causality has yet to be established. An identification of risk factors for developing fibromyalgia is key to a better understanding of this debilitating condition. The Center for Disease Control's Behavioral and Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) has been used to assess risk factors of several different chronic disease states. The use of this tool in a population of fibromyalgia patients may identify risk factors associated with this disease. Materials and Methods: After IRB approval was gained, informed consent was obtained from 36 fibromyalgia patients receiving their care at ***. De-identified data was collected via interview based on questions from the CDC's core Behavioral and Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). Comparative categorical variable analysis was performed using the population sampled by the CDC as the control group. Results Statistical significance was found for the following categories: lack of emotional support; life dissatisfaction; fairness of health; physical, mental, or emotional disability; adverse childhood experiences; and marital status. Conclusions: The BRFSS proved useful in analyzing previously identified risk factors associated with fibromyalgia for more specific components. Along with validating the extent of disability in these patients, the BRFSS may be used in future studies to enhance the understanding of risk factors for developing fibromyalgia and its multifactorial etiology. References: 1)20. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. BRFSS - states participating in surveillance. . 2)24. Okifugi A. Relationship between fibromyalgia and obesity in pain, function, mood, and sleep. J Pain 2010;EPub. 3)21. Wolfe F, Smythe HA, Yunus MB, Bennett RM, Bombardier C, Goldenberg DL, et al. The American college of rheumatology 1990 criteria for the classification of fibromyalgia: report of the multicenter criteria committee. Arthritis Rheum 1990;33:160-72.

Funding: None