Fibromyalgia Syndrome Pain in Men and Women: A Scoping Review
Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a chronic musculoskeletal disorder of unknown etiology that affects up to 5.0% of the world population. It has a high female predominance, between 80 and 96%. Due to the low number of diagnosed men, research work has focused mainly on women. The extensive body of liter...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2023-01-01
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| Series: | Healthcare |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/11/2/223 |
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| author | Ilga Ruschak Pilar Montesó-Curto Lluís Rosselló Carina Aguilar Martín Laura Sánchez-Montesó Loren Toussaint |
| author_facet | Ilga Ruschak Pilar Montesó-Curto Lluís Rosselló Carina Aguilar Martín Laura Sánchez-Montesó Loren Toussaint |
| author_sort | Ilga Ruschak |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a chronic musculoskeletal disorder of unknown etiology that affects up to 5.0% of the world population. It has a high female predominance, between 80 and 96%. Due to the low number of diagnosed men, research work has focused mainly on women. The extensive body of literature on sex differences in pain in the general population suggests that men and women differ in their responses to pain, with greater sensitivity to pain and a higher risk of clinical pain commonly observed among women. This review aims to: (1) determine how pain is assessed or what types of questionnaires are used, (2) examine whether there are differences in pain characteristics between men and women with FMS and (3) describe how pain is conceptualized or manifested in patients at a qualitative level. In this study, the scoping review method of articles published in the last 5 years (2016–2022) was used. Ten articles were included. The most used questionnaires and scales to assess pain were the PVAS (Pain Visual Analogue Scale) and the FIQ (Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire). On the other hand, five categories were obtained: (1) qualities of pain, (2) uncertainty and chaos, (3) pain as an aggravating factor, (4) adaptation to the new reality and (5) the communication of pain. It has been observed that both subjective perception and widespread pain are higher in women. Men, on the other hand, have a worse impact of the pathology, more painful experiences and more catastrophic thoughts about pain. An updated knowledge of pain in FMS and whether it differs according to sex would be beneficial for clinicians to make an earlier diagnosis and treatment and, in turn, benefit patients suffering from this chronic disease. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T12:33:22Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e9bcac74a2364784a4a3b933a101d2c6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2227-9032 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T12:33:22Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Healthcare |
| spelling | doaj.art-e9bcac74a2364784a4a3b933a101d2c62023-11-30T22:27:45ZengMDPI AGHealthcare2227-90322023-01-0111222310.3390/healthcare11020223Fibromyalgia Syndrome Pain in Men and Women: A Scoping ReviewIlga Ruschak0Pilar Montesó-Curto1Lluís Rosselló2Carina Aguilar Martín3Laura Sánchez-Montesó4Loren Toussaint5Internal Medicine Unit, Sant Pau i Santa Tecla Hospital, 43003 Tarragona, SpainPrimary Care in Institut Català de la Salut (ICS), 43500 Tortosa, SpainRheumatology Unit, Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Unit Coordinator, Santa Maria Hospital, 25198 Lleida, SpainResearch Support Unit, University Institute for Primary Care Research (IDIAP Jordi Gol), 43500 Tortosa, SpainPhysical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Università di Roma Tor Vergata, Policlinco Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Psychology, Luther College, Decorah, IA 52101, USAFibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a chronic musculoskeletal disorder of unknown etiology that affects up to 5.0% of the world population. It has a high female predominance, between 80 and 96%. Due to the low number of diagnosed men, research work has focused mainly on women. The extensive body of literature on sex differences in pain in the general population suggests that men and women differ in their responses to pain, with greater sensitivity to pain and a higher risk of clinical pain commonly observed among women. This review aims to: (1) determine how pain is assessed or what types of questionnaires are used, (2) examine whether there are differences in pain characteristics between men and women with FMS and (3) describe how pain is conceptualized or manifested in patients at a qualitative level. In this study, the scoping review method of articles published in the last 5 years (2016–2022) was used. Ten articles were included. The most used questionnaires and scales to assess pain were the PVAS (Pain Visual Analogue Scale) and the FIQ (Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire). On the other hand, five categories were obtained: (1) qualities of pain, (2) uncertainty and chaos, (3) pain as an aggravating factor, (4) adaptation to the new reality and (5) the communication of pain. It has been observed that both subjective perception and widespread pain are higher in women. Men, on the other hand, have a worse impact of the pathology, more painful experiences and more catastrophic thoughts about pain. An updated knowledge of pain in FMS and whether it differs according to sex would be beneficial for clinicians to make an earlier diagnosis and treatment and, in turn, benefit patients suffering from this chronic disease.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/11/2/223fibromyalgiapainassessmentexperiencereview |
| spellingShingle | Ilga Ruschak Pilar Montesó-Curto Lluís Rosselló Carina Aguilar Martín Laura Sánchez-Montesó Loren Toussaint Fibromyalgia Syndrome Pain in Men and Women: A Scoping Review Healthcare fibromyalgia pain assessment experience review |
| title | Fibromyalgia Syndrome Pain in Men and Women: A Scoping Review |
| title_full | Fibromyalgia Syndrome Pain in Men and Women: A Scoping Review |
| title_fullStr | Fibromyalgia Syndrome Pain in Men and Women: A Scoping Review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Fibromyalgia Syndrome Pain in Men and Women: A Scoping Review |
| title_short | Fibromyalgia Syndrome Pain in Men and Women: A Scoping Review |
| title_sort | fibromyalgia syndrome pain in men and women a scoping review |
| topic | fibromyalgia pain assessment experience review |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/11/2/223 |
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