Abstrakt

Characteristics of fibromyalgia patients prescribed opioid medications: data from the Cleveland Clinic Fibromyalgia Registry

Sahar Kaouk, William S. Wilke & Carmen E. Gota

Objective: Determine the prevalence, socioeconomic, clinical characteristics of fibromyalgia (FM) patients and the factors associated with narcotic drug prescription.

Methods: New patients with FM referred for rheumatology evaluation are compared based on narcotic drugs use. Demographic, socioeconomic, clinical, and medication data are collected.

Results: Of 305 FM patients 34.8% are taking narcotic medication and these patients (p ≤ 0.05) are older, have longer duration of FM, are socioeconomically more disadvantaged by lower education and employment and higher disability rates; more are obese, and clinically report more extensive and severe pain, higher depression, more disability and higher FM severity, compared to FM patients not prescribed opioid drugs. Patients prescribed opioids are using more medical resources, they take more medications for FM and report more doctor visits and surgeries. Binomial regression analysis demonstrates that pain and stiffness severity, and functional impairment are independent predictors of being prescribed opioid medications. Taking narcotic medications is an independent predictor of FM severity along with pain and depressive symptoms.

Conclusion: About one third of patients with FM seen in a tertiary care rheumatology center are taking narcotic medications to treat pain. In this environment, opioid prescription for FM identifies a group of patients with severe FM who have failed the traditional therapeutic options.