title: A patient survey of the impact of fibromyalgia and the journey to diagnosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Fibromyalgia is a painful, debilitating illness with a prevalence of 0.5-5.0% that affects women more than men. It has been shown that the diagnosis of fibromyalgia is associated with improved patient satisfaction and reduced healthcare utilization. This survey examined the patient journey to having their condition diagnosed and studied the impact of the condition on their life.
  
  
  METHODS
  A questionnaire survey of 800 patients with fibromyalgia and 1622 physicians in 6 European countries, Mexico and South Korea. Patients were recruited via their physician.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Over half the patients (61%) were aged 36-59 years, 84% were women, and the mean time since experiencing fibromyalgia symptoms was 6.5 years. Patients had experienced multiple fibromyalgia symptoms (mean of 7.3 out of 14), with pain, fatigue, sleeping problems and concentration difficulties being the most commonly reported. Most patients rated their chronic widespread pain as moderate or severe and fibromyalgia symptoms were on average "fairly" to "very" disruptive, and had a "moderate" to "strong" impact on patients' lives. 22% were unable to work and 25% were not able to work all the time because of their fibromyalgia. Patients waited on average almost a year after experiencing symptoms before presenting to a physician, and it took an average of 2.3 years and presenting to 3.7 different physicians before receiving a diagnosis of fibromyalgia. Patients rated receiving a diagnosis as somewhat difficult on average and had difficulties communicating their symptoms to the physician. Over one third (35%) felt their chronic widespread pain was not well managed by their current treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This survey provides further evidence that fibromyalgia is characterized by multiple symptoms and has a notable impact on quality of life and function. The diagnosis of fibromyalgia is delayed. Patients wait a significant period of time before presenting to a physician, adding to the prolonged time to diagnosis. Patients typically present with a multitude of symptoms, all resulting in a delay in diagnosis and eventual management. Helping clinicians to diagnose and manage patients with fibromyalgia should benefit both patients and funders of healthcare.
authors.affiliation: Sir Alfred Baring Garrod Clinical Trials Unit, Academic Department of Rheumatology, King's College London, UK.
authors.forename: Ernest
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Choy
authors.forename: Serge
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Perrot
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Leon
authors.forename: Joan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kaplan
authors.forename: Danielle
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Petersel
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ginovker
authors.forename: Erich
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kramer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017281:Cost of Illness; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D005356:Fibromyalgia / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology*; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D056910:Republic of Korea; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors