The effect of the presence of metabolic syndrome on the functional status of patients with fibromyalgia syndrome

Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS); It is a chronic disease characterized by widespread pain, fatigue, sleep disorders and cognitive dysfunction in the musculoskeletal system. Metabolic syndrome (MetS) refers to a metabolic dysfunction that includes components such as abdominal obesity, insulin resistance, hypertension and dyslipidemia under the influence of genetic and environmental factors. Mechanisms such as abnormal regulation of central pain modulation, irregular hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and immunological sensitivity, which are thought to play a role in the etiology of FMS, are also thought to be responsible for the development of obesity and metabolic syndrome. In this study, it was aimed to investigate the possible effects of the presence of metabolic syndrome on pain and fatigue levels, functional status, anxiety and depression levels, and cognitive symptoms in female patients with FMS, as well as to examine whether metabolic syndrome parameters are related to the symptoms and functional results of FMS. Eighty female patients diagnosed with FMS were included in the study. Height, weight and waist circumference measurements were made for all patients. The blood pressures of the patients were measured with the help of sphingometer, hand grip strength with electronic hand dynamometer and finger grip strength with pinchmeter. Patients' pain visual analog scale, functional status fibromyalgia impact questionnaire, fatigue levels, fatigue severity scale, moods Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and Modified Fatigue Impact Scale, sleep disorder Pittsburgh Sleep Quality of life Index (PUKI), quality of life was assessed with Short Form-36. Routine laboratory test results such as erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), c-reactive protein (CRP), rheumatoid factor (RF), complete blood count, biochemical and hormonal (thyroid stimulating hormone, parathormone) tests were obtained for diagnosis and differential diagnosis. In our study, pain measured by VAS had much higher scores in the group with metabolic syndrome. In addition, the mean score of fibromyalgia impact questionnaire and all subgroup scores of SF-36 used in the evaluation of quality of life, except energy vitality, were significantly higher in the MetS+ group (p<0.05). The mean of fatigue severity scale was higher in the MetS+ group, but the difference was not statistically significant. Modified Fatigue Impact Scale cognitive function subscale was statistically significantly higher in the MetS+ group (p<0.05), and there was a significant positive correlation with blood glucose level. While the difference between the groups in terms of anxiety levels in Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale scores was significant (p<0.05), the difference was not statistically significant in terms of depression levels. A positive significant correlation was also found between Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale score and metabolic syndrome score. There was no difference between the two groups in terms of poor sleep quality. In the metabolic syndrome group, there was a positive correlation between weight gain and pain VAS values, and again between body mass index (BMI) and generalized pain scores of the patients. The presence of metabolic syndrome may be a factor in worsening symptoms in patients with FMS. In our study, it was observed that functionality, quality of life, cognitive functions, emotional and psychological state were affected worse in the MetS+ group. It is recommended to take into account that metabolic syndrome, which adversely affects the disease, may coexist in fibromyalgia syndrome and to take preventive and therapeutic measures for metabolic syndrome. Keywords: Fibromyalgia Syndrome, Metabolic Syndrome, Life Quality, Chronic Pain