Evaluation of the quality of life in Brazilian women with fibromyalgia, through the medical outcome survey 36 item short-form study.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to assess the impact of Fibromyalgia (FM) on the female patient's quality of life who attended the Rheumatology Outpatient Unit of Sorocaba Hospital Complex and compare it to the quality of life of healthy control group, through the Medical Outcome Study Short-form 36 item Survey (SF36).

SUBJECTS: 32 women who fitted the American College of Rheumatology Classification Criteria for Fibromyalgia and 28 healthy women.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The groups were submitted to 'Medical Outcome Study 36 Item Short-form Survey' (SF36). This questionnaire is composed of 8 scales about several aspects of the quality of life.

RESULTS: The SF36 scales in the Fibromyalgia group presented the following results: general health--43.3; functional ability--39.4; bodily pain--26.5; physical functioning--14.8 (0-75); vitality--38.5 (5-85); emotional functioning--32.2; mental health--44.2; social functioning--45.1. The SF36 scales in the control group presented the following results: general health--73.2; functional ability--86.6; bodily pain--68.9; physical functioning--82.4; vitality--59.6; emotional functioning--78.5; mental health--67.4; social functioning--77.9. Significant statistics variations in all evaluated scales were presented by the survey group.

CONCLUSION: Fibromyalgia has had a negative impact on the quality of life.