QUALITY-OF-LIFE AND PHYSICAL FUNCTIONING OF RELATIVES OF FIBROMYALGIAPATIENTS

Objectives: The quality of life (QOL) and health status of fibromyalgi a syndrome (FS) patients is impaired, and may adversely affect their c lose relatives. The aim of this study was to assess the QOL and physic al functioning of relatives of FS patients. Methods: A total of 118 re latives (parents, husbands, siblings, and offspring) of 30 FS female p atients were evaluated using a QOL scale and the Fibromyalgia Impact Q uestionnaire (FIQ) and were compared with 124 healthy controls. These measures of functioning and QOL were further studied in relatives with and without FS. Results: Although the QOL of the relatives was better than that of the FS index women, they were significantly less satisfi ed than the controls with functioning-related aspects, namely work (jo b or home), independence, and health (P < .05). Relatives with FS (n = 29) and female relatives (n = 40) reported lower QOL than relatives w ithout FS (n = 89) and male relatives (n = 78), respectively. Similarl y, physical functioning of relatives, though better than in FS index c ases, was significantly worse than in healthy controls. Furthermore, t he health status of female relatives and relatives with FS was signifi cantly worse than that of male relatives and relatives without FS, res pectively, Conclusions: The quality of life and physical functioning o f relatives of FS patients were found to be impaired, especially in fe male relatives and those with undiagnosed FS. This finding may be attr ibuted to the psychological distress in families of FS patients and to the high prevalence (25%) of undiagnosed FS among the relatives. Copy right (C) 1997 by W.B. Saunders Company.