Clinical Manifestations Associated with OverweightObesity in Puerto Ricans with Fibromyalgia Syndrome

Abstract EN

Objective.

To determine the clinical manifestations associated with overweight/obesity in Hispanics from Puerto Rico with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS).

Methods.

A cross-sectional study was performed in 144 patients with FMS (per American College of Rheumatology (ACR) classification criteria).

Sociodemographic features, FMS-related symptoms, tender points (per ACR criteria), comorbidities, and FMS treatment were examined.

BMI was calculated and patients were grouped into two categories: BMI ≤ 24.9 kg/m2 (nonoverweight/obese) and BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2 (overweight/obese).

Bivariate and multivariate analyses were used to evaluate differences between the study groups.

Results.

The mean (standard deviation (SD)) age of patients was 50.2 (9.9) years; 95.1% were females and 75.7% were overweight/obese.

In the bivariate analysis, overweight/obese patients were more likely to have self-reported memory impairment, anxiety, shortness of breath, and urinary frequency than nonoverweight/obese patients.

In addition, the tender point count was higher in the overweight/obese group.

In the logistic regression analyses, self-reported memory impairment and urinary frequency differences remained significant after adjusting for confounding variables.

Conclusion.

In this population of Puerto Ricans with FMS, overweight/obese patients experienced more FMS-related manifestations than nonoverweight/obese individuals.

However, prospective studies are needed to confirm these associations and to elucidate if weight reduction interventions could favorably impact the severity of FMS.