The influence of age on fibromyalgia symptoms.
OBJECTIVE
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.
Cronan
Terry A
TA
San Diego State University, USA.
Serber
Eva R
ER
Walen
Heather R
HR
Jaffe
Michael
M
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D005356:Fibromyalgia / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011788:Quality of Life; D014481:United States