RESEARCH - Prevalence of abuse in fibromyalgia and other rheumatic disorders at a specialized clinic in rheumatic diseases in Guatemala City

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J Clin Rheumatol. 2005 Jun;11(3):140-5

Prevalence of abuse in fibromyalgia and other rheumatic disorders at a

specialized clinic in rheumatic diseases in Guatemala City.

Castro I, Barrantes F, Tuna M, Cabrera G, C, Recinos M,

Espinoza LR, -Kutzbach A.

Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.

BACKGROUND: The importance of past adverse experiences is increasingly

recognized in patients with rheumatic disease.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to study the association of

physical, verbal, and sexual abuse in patients with rheumatic

disorders as compared with healthy volunteers.

METHODS: In this case-control study, 500 new patients attending an

outpatient rheumatic clinic were interviewed from September 1, 1999,

to August 31, 2001. A total of 187 patients with 3 diagnoses were

selected: 58 had fibromyalgia (FM), 74 rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and

55 patients with soft tissue rheumatic disease (STRD). All selected

patients were asked to complete a questionnaire designed to obtain

information regarding demographics and history of verbal, physical,

and sexual abuse. A group of 187 healthy control subjects were also

included, matched for sex and age.

RESULTS: The prevalence of abuse was significantly more common in the

rheumatic disease group than in the control group (48.1% versus 15%, P

< 0.001). The prevalence of abuse among the groups was as follows:

70.7% of patients with FM reported abuse (24.3% verbal, 60.9%

physical, and 14.8% sexual), 35.1% of patients with RA had a history

of abuse (42.3% verbal, 30.7% physical, and 0% sexual), whereas 41.8%

of patients with STRD reported abuse (43.4% verbal, 43.4% physical,

and 0% sexual). When comparing the 3 groups, patients with FM showed a

higher prevalence of abuse (P < 0.05). The abuse was usually

longstanding (range, 1-10 years), and most abusers were close family

members.

CONCLUSION: Abuse, both physical and psychologic, was significantly

increased in our rheumatic disease population, especially in patients

with FM. Further studies are needed to fully establish its role.

Questions about abuse may provide important information relative to

care of our patients.

PMID: 16357732

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16357732

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