Fibromyalgia Shows more Difficult Problems for Younger Patients

A recent study shows that young patients who encounter problems with fibromyalgia often have a more difficult time getting through symptoms.

According to the Mayo Clinic study, as the health issue most often strikes women, it's characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain that's often accompanied by fatigue, sleep, memory and mood issues.

However this study that was presented at the American College of Rheumatology's annual meeting shows that the disorder is often different among various ages groups.

According to the researchers, they divided 978 of the fibromyalgia patients into three groups: those 39 or younger, those 50 to 59, and those 60 or older.

Results showed that those who were younger or middle-aged were more likely to be employed, unmarried, smokers and have a higher education or lower body mass index than other patients. However, this same group was also more likely to have a higher abuse history and shorter duration of fibromyalgia symptoms than older patients.

"Among the three age groups of young, middle-aged and older, symptom severity and quality of life differs," senior author Terry Oh, M.D., a physical medicine and rehabilitation physician at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. said, via a press release.

Researchers also note that women in all three groups with the health issue reported a lower quality of life than average U.S. women based on such factors as physical and mental health.

Researchers also noted the following regarding the issue based on other studies, via the release:

• About 7 percent of fibromyalgia patients had inflammatory rheumatic conditions, and that in general, those fibromyalgia patients didn't do as well with treatment as those without rheumatic diseases.
• Fibromyalgia patients may also have skin-related symptoms such as excessive sweating or burning or other sensations.
• Obese patients with polymyalgia rheumatica have more pain and disability than other polymyalgia rheumatica patients. They also tend to need higher doses of glucocorticoids.
• Rheumatoid arthritis patient experiences and symptoms do not always reflect what medical literature shows when it comes to pain, morning stiffness, the relationship between swelling and damage, and what worsens or improves symptoms.
• Hospitalization is a significant risk factor for gout flares in people already diagnosed with gout.

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