A comparison of quality of life, demographic and clinical characteristics of Brazilian men with fibromyalgia syndrome with male patients with depression.
The primary aim of this study was to assess the quality of life (Qol) in men with fibromyalgia (FM) as compared to the Qol of depressive patients, using the SF-36 questionnaire. The secondary objectives were as follows: to describe demographic and clinical characteristics of male patients with FM; to evaluate basal levels of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) and total testosterone in both groups; and to investigate the relationship among pain, tender points, anxiety, and depression in these patients. Fifty men with FM and 20 depressed males, matched by age and body mass index entered the study. All participants answered the SF-36, the Beck Depression Inventory and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory questionnaire. Radioimmunoassay was used to determine serum concentration of DHEAS and total testosterone. Patients and controls had similar demographic characteristics. The scores were significantly lower in all domains of the SF-36 in patients with FM as compared with the depressive controls. No significant differences were observed among patient and control in the mean concentration of either DHEAS or total testosterone. Male patients with FM experience worse Qol than depressive men. Depression was influential on mental health, whereas FM impacted on both physical and mental health.
Yoshikawa
Gilberto Toshimitsu
GT
Rheumatology Division, Department of Medicine, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Rua Botucatu 740 3 degrees andar, São Paulo, Brazil.
Heymann
Roberto Ezequiel
RE
Helfenstein
Milton
M
Pollak
Daniel Feldman
DF
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety; D001938:Brazil; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000097:blood; D003710:Demography; D003863:Depression / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D005356:Fibromyalgia / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000503:physiopathology; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011788:Quality of Life; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult
D013739:Testosterone; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone