Evaluation of the physical and emotional effects of the earthquake in fibromyalgia patients

Year 2025, Volume: 8 Issue: 2, 174 - 179, 21.03.2025

Hatice Zehra Ferhatlar , Mustafa Tuna , Esma Demirhan

https://doi.org/10.32322/jhsm.1589687

Abstract

Aims: Fibromyalgia (FMS) is a soft tissue disease characterized by widespread pain and tenderness. Poor living conditions and stress can cause the symptoms of the disease to aggravate. Natural disasters such as earthquakes can also increase the severity of symptoms such as pain and sleep disturbance in fibromyalgia patients by creating physical and psychological stress. In this study, we aimed to show the physical and psychological effects of the earthquake on fibromyalgia patients.
Methods: Our study is of prospective type and was conducted between 01.09.2023 and 01.11.2023. 59 earthquake victims and 50 non-earthquake victims FMS patients diagnosed with FMS according to the ACR2016 diagnostic criteria were included. All patients filled out four forms: Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) showing psychological states, Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) showing physical states, EuroQol Group (EQ5D3L) general quality of life scale showing quality of life, EQ5D3L-VAS scale showing pain conditions and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index showing sleep quality.
Results: ASD, FIQ, EQ5D3L, EQ5D3L-VAS and Pittsburg scores of fibromyalgia patients who were earthquake victims were statistically significantly higher than FMS patients who were non earthquake victims (respectively p=0.008, p<0.001, p=0.008, p=0.008, p=0.008).
Conclusion: It is known that the risk of developing chronic pain syndromes and psychological distress increases after unexpected natural disasters such as earthquakes. In this study, we showed that the earthquake negatively affected pain, fatigue, sleep and quality of life in fibromyalgia patients. Thus, we tried to draw attention to the importance of appropriate screening, management, emotional support and mental health services for post-earthquake fibromyalgia patients.

Keywords

Fibromyalgia, pain, natural disaster, earthquake

Fibromiyalji hastalarında depremin fiziksel ve ruhsal etkilerinin değerlendirilmesi

Abstract

Amaçlar: Fibromiyalji (FMS), yaygın ağrı ve hassasiyetle karakterize bir yumuşak doku hastalığıdır. Kötü yaşam koşulları ve stres, hastalığın semptomlarının kötüleşmesine neden olabilir. Deprem gibi doğal afetler de fibromiyalji hastalarında fiziksel ve psikolojik stres yaratarak ağrı ve uyku bozukluğu gibi semptomların şiddetini artırabilir. Bu çalışmada, depremin fibromiyalji hastaları üzerindeki fiziksel ve psikolojik etkilerini göstermeyi amaçladık.
Yöntemler: Çalışmamız prospektif tipte olup 01.09.2023 ile 01.11.2023 tarihleri ​​arasında yürütülmüştür. ACR2016 tanı kriterlerine göre FMS tanısı almış 59 deprem mağduru ve 50 deprem mağduru olmayan FMS hastası çalışmaya dahil edilmiştir. Tüm hastalar dört formu doldurdu: Psikolojik durumları gösteren Algılanan Stres Ölçeği (PSS), fiziksel durumları gösteren Fibromiyalji Etki Anketi (FIQ), yaşam kalitesini gösteren EuroQol Group (EQ5D3L) genel yaşam kalitesi ölçeği, ağrı durumlarını gösteren EQ5D3L-VAS ölçeği ve uyku kalitesini gösteren Pittsburgh Uyku Kalitesi İndeksi.
Sonuçlar: Deprem mağduru fibromiyalji hastalarının ASD, FIQ, EQ5D3L, EQ5D3L-VAS ve Pittsburgh skorları deprem mağduru olmayan FMS hastalarından istatistiksel olarak anlamlı derecede yüksekti (sırasıyla p=0,008, p<0,001, p=0,008, p=0,008, p=0,008).
Sonuç: Deprem gibi beklenmeyen doğal afetlerden sonra kronik ağrı sendromu ve psikolojik sıkıntı geliştirme riskinin arttığı bilinmektedir. Bu çalışmada depremin fibromiyalji hastalarında ağrı, yorgunluk, uyku ve yaşam kalitesini olumsuz etkilediğini gösterdik. Bu nedenle deprem sonrası fibromiyalji hastalarında uygun tarama, yönetim, duygusal destek ve ruh sağlığı hizmetlerinin önemine dikkat çekmeye çalıştık.

Keywords

Fibromiyalji, ağrı, doğal afet, deprem

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