Fear of COVID-19: reflections on disease severity, sleep and anxiety in fibromyalgia patients

Abstract

Aim: This study aimed to assess the effects of COVID- 19 fear and anxiety on disease severity, pain, sleep quality and health-related quality of life in fibromyalgia patients. Material and Method: Sixty-four patients with diagnosis fibromyalgia and sixty-five healthy volunteers over 18 years of age were enrolled in the study. Sociodemographic features were evaluated. Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ), Short Form 36 (SF-36), Coronavirus Anxiety Scale (CAS), Obsession with COVID-19 Scale(OCS), and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) were administered to all participants. Results: The mean values of CAS, FIQ, PSQI, and BDI were found to be higher in the fibromyalgia group than the control group (p<0.05). The median/mean value of CAS, OCS, and BDI were higher in patients with losing a first-degree relative patient due to COVID-19 in fibromyalgia group, these results were statistically significant (p<0.05). Conclusion: According to the results of this study, fibromyalgia may be affected more by psychological stress which affects disease severity during COVID 19 pandemic.

Keywords

• fibromyalgia
• COVID-19
• anxiety

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