The Influence of Age on Fibromyalgia Symptoms

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Studies of the influence of age on health and well-being in chronically ill patients have produced mixed findings. This study examined young (20-39), middle-aged (40-59), and older (60-85) individuals with fibromyalgia (FMS), a chronic pain condition. The purpose of this study was to determine whether there were differences among the age groups in symptomatology and to examine potential mediating psychosocial variables. METHODS: Participants were 600 (95% female, mean age = 54, SD = 11) diagnosed FMS patients who were members of a health maintenance organization. Multivariate analyses of covariance were used to examine differences. RESULTS: There were significant differences among the age groups in most of the variables: With increasing age symptom duration increased but FMS symptomatology decreased. No age differences were found among the psychosocial mediators. The results suggest that the effects of FMS decrease over time.