COMPARISON OF FIBROMYALGIA SEVERITY ACCORDING TO AGE CATEGORIES IN PAKISTAN POPULATION: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.71000/x4tfms89Keywords:
Fibromyalgia, Occupational Stress\, Physicians, Chronic Pain, Night Shifts, Sleep Quality, WorkloadAbstract
Background: Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic pain disorder marked by widespread musculoskeletal discomfort, persistent fatigue, and sleep disturbances. Physicians, who routinely encounter demanding clinical workloads, emotional strain, and irregular schedules, may face elevated vulnerability to FM due to prolonged exposure to occupational stressors. Understanding how demographic and work-related factors shape FM severity in this population is essential for designing targeted preventive and supportive strategies.
Objective: To evaluate demographic and occupational factors associated with FM severity among practicing physicians, including age, gender, marital status, years of clinical experience, specialty, weekly work hours, night-shift frequency, and perceived work-related stress.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 250 physicians recruited through stratified random sampling from diverse healthcare settings. Data were collected using self-administered questionnaires capturing demographic information, occupational characteristics, and sleep quality measured through the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). FM severity was assessed using the Widespread Pain Index (WPI), Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ), and Symptom Severity Score (SSS). Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 25.0, including descriptive statistics, independent t-tests, chi-square tests, Pearson and Spearman correlations, and multivariate logistic regression to identify independent predictors of FM severity.
Results: Participants had a mean age of 38.2 ± 7.5 years, with 110 males and 140 females. High work stress was reported by 70%, while 72% demonstrated poor sleep quality. FM prevalence showed 18% mild cases (SSS ≤ 4), 42% moderate (SSS 5–8), and 40% severe (SSS > 8). FM severity was significantly higher among females (p = 0.04). Physicians working more than two night shifts weekly exhibited elevated FIQ and WPI scores (p = 0.02). Poor sleep quality (p < 0.01), high work stress (p < 0.01), and longer years in practice (r = 0.32, p = 0.001) showed strong associations with FM severity. Physical activity demonstrated a protective effect (r = −0.40, p < 0.001).
Conclusion: A considerable proportion of physicians experience moderate to severe FM symptoms. Female gender, high occupational stress, frequent night shifts, and poor sleep quality significantly contribute to symptom severity. Workplace-based interventions focusing on stress reduction, sleep hygiene, and lifestyle modification are essential to reduce FM burden among medical professionals.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Abdul Aziz, Taimoor Khan, Ehtisham ul Haq , Rida asghar , Tanveer Ahmed Mirza, Muhammad Waleed Ghous (Author)
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