PREVALENCE OF FIBROMYALGIA SYNDROME AND ITS EFFECT ON QUALITY OF LIFE IN HEMODIALYSIS PATIENTS

Objective: We evaluated the prevalence of fibromyalgia syndrome (FM) in hemodialysis patients and whether this syndrome was associated withgender, age, duration of hemodialysis, or other laboratory parameters.Methods: The study included 248 patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) undergoing hemodialysis. The patients were stratified into twogroups: patients with FM based on the 2010 American College of Rheumatology diagnostic criteria and patients not meeting these criteria withoutFM. Quality of life (QOL) was assessed using the Short Form-36 (SF-36) and Kidney Disease Quality of Life-36 (KDQOL-36) questionnaires.Sociodemographic data, laboratory parameters and a marker for adequacy of hemodialysis (Kt/V) were recorded.Results: FM was detected in 33/248 (13.3%) of patients included. All patients diagnosed as FM were female. When all sub-parameters of SF-36 andKDQOL-36 were compared, QOL was lower in the FM group compared to patients without FM (p<0.05). When laboratory parameters, dialysisduration, Kt/V, marital status and BMI were compared, no difference was detected between groups (p>0.05). FM frequency was higher in cases ofadvanced age, presence of systemic disease and/or hepatitis B and C infection in patients undergoing hemodialysis (p<0.05). In addition, FMfrequency was inversely proportional to education level (p<0.05).Conclusion: FM, associated with a significant decrease in QOL, is more commonly seen in CKD patients undergoing dialysis compared to thegeneral population. Thus, it will be helpful to keep FM in mind and to improve QOL in these patients by early diagnosis and treatment.