The hidden burden of fibromyalgia: exploring work impairment and quality of life in caregivers

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dc.contributor.authorFerahman, Demet
dc.contributor.authorBucak, Omer Faruk
dc.contributor.authorArik, S.
dc.contributor.authorSahbaz, Tu?ba
dc.date.accessioned2026-01-31T15:04:25Z
dc.date.available2026-01-31T15:04:25Z
dc.date.issued2025
dc.departmentİstanbul Beykent Üniversitesi
dc.description.abstractObjective Fibromyalgia (FM) syndrome is a chronic musculoskeletal disorder that profoundly impacts not only patients but also their informal caregivers, affecting their quality of life and work productivity. This study aims to investigate the impact of FM on the work productivity and quality of life of informal caregivers. Methods This cross-sectional study included FM patients who applied to our Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation clinic and their informal caregivers. FM was diagnosed using the revised 2016 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria. A healthy control group and their cohabiting relatives were also included. FM patients completed the Revised Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQR), while caregivers and control group relatives completed the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire-General Health (WPAI-GH) and the World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale-Short Form (WHOQoL-BREF). Results The study included 68 FM caregivers and 68 control group relatives. WPAI scores revealed significant differences in presenteeism, overall work productivity loss, and activity impairment between FM caregivers and controls (p<0.05), though no difference in absenteeism was observed. WHOQoL-BREF scores showed significant reductions across all quality-of-life domains for FM caregivers compared to controls, with a notable correlation between the FIQR scores of FM patients and the social relationships domain of their caregivers (p=0.026, r=-0.269). Conclusion FM poses substantial burdens on both patients and their informal caregivers, reducing caregivers’work productivity and quality of life. Given the chronic nature of FM and the resulting long-term caregiving responsibilities, interventions that support both patients and caregivers, such as integrated healthcare and psychotherapy, may be beneficial. Further longitudinal studies are needed to examine these effects over time and support the development of comprehensive caregiver support strategies. © Copyright CliniCal and ExpErimEntal rhEumatology 2025.
dc.identifier.doi10.55563/clinexprheumatol/obdrlt
dc.identifier.endpage1034
dc.identifier.issn0392-856X
dc.identifier.issue6
dc.identifier.pmid40242898
dc.identifier.scopus2-s2.0-105009049927
dc.identifier.scopusqualityQ1
dc.identifier.startpage1027
dc.identifier.urihttps://doi.org/10.55563/clinexprheumatol/obdrlt
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12662/10539
dc.identifier.volume43
dc.indekslendigikaynakScopus
dc.indekslendigikaynakPubMed
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherClinical and Experimental Rheumatology S.A.S.
dc.relation.ispartofClinical and Experimental Rheumatology
dc.relation.publicationcategoryMakale - Uluslararası Hakemli Dergi - Kurum Öğretim Elemanı
dc.rightsinfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.snmzKA_Scopus_20260128
dc.subjectcaregivers
dc.subjectfibromyalgia
dc.subjectquality of life
dc.subjectwork impairment
dc.subjectwork productivity
dc.titleThe hidden burden of fibromyalgia: exploring work impairment and quality of life in caregivers
dc.typeArticle

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