Healthcare experiences of fibromyalgia patients and their associations with satisfaction and pain relief. A patient survey.

Objectives: The etiology of fibromyalgia (FM) is disputed, and there is no established cure. Quantitative data on how this may affect patients' healthcare experiences are scarce. The present study aims to investigate FM patients' pain-related healthcare experiences and explore factors associated with high satisfaction and pain relief.

Diagnostic and therapeutic care pathway for fibromyalgia.

Early diagnosis and timely and appropriate treatments positively influence the history of fibromyalgia syndrome (FM), with favourable repercussions at clinical, psychological, social and economic levels. Notwithstanding, there are still significant problems with timeliness of diagnosis, access to pharmacological therapies - particularly to innovative ones - and appropriate and effective taking in charge of patients. All the aforementioned factors have a great impact on FM patients' quality of life.

Fibromyalgia position paper.

Fibromyalgia syndrome is one of the most common causes of chronic widespread pain, but pain accompanies a wide range of ancillary symptoms. To date, its aetiopathogenesis remains elusive, and diagnosis is exquisitely clinical, due to the lack of biomarkers or specific laboratory alterations in fibromyalgia patients. This position paper has the purpose to summarise the current scientific knowledge and expert opinions about the main controversies regarding fibromyalgia syndrome, namely: (i) fibromyalgia definition and why it is still not recognised in many countries as a distinct clinical entity; (ii) fibromyalgia severity and how to evaluate treatment outcome; (iii) how to treat fibromyalgia and which is a correct approach to fibromyalgia patients.

Mortality and causes of death across the systemic connective tissue diseases and the primary systemic vasculitides.

Objectives: Studies assessing relative mortality risks across the spectrum of systemic inflammatory rheumatic diseases are largely missing. In this study, we wanted to estimate standard mortality ratios (SMRs) and causes of death in an ethnically homogeneous cohort covering all major CTDs and primary systemic vasculitides (PSVs).

Methods: We prospectively followed all incident CTD and PSV cases included in the Norwegian CTD and vasculitis registry (NOSVAR) between 1999 and 2015.

Effect of a fibromyalgia rehabilitation programme in warm versus cold climate: a randomized controlled study.

Objective: To study the long-term effects on symptoms and physical function of a 4-week rehabilitation programme for patients with fibromyalgia, and to determine whether there are any differences if this programme is applied in a warm or cold climate.

Methods: A total of 132 patients with fibromyalgia were randomized to a rehabilitation programme in a warm or cold climate, or to a control group without intervention. Assessments were performed before and after intervention, and after 3 and 12 months.

Comprehensive rehabilitation of patients with rheumatic diseases in a warm climate: a literature review.

Objective: To present the evidence for the efficacy of comprehensive rehabilitation in a warm climate of patients with a wide variety of rheumatic diseases.

Methods: A systematic review of the literature was undertaken, searching in PubMed, Cinahl, Pedro, SweMed and Embase from 1970 to 2010, and using the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation system) criteria.

Results: Six studies met the inclusion criteria.

Semi-quantitative assessment of the distribution of skin lesions in patients with psoriasis and psoriasis arthritis.

Background: We propose that the distribution of skin lesions in psoriasis may be assessed using parametric maps on a pixel-by-pixel basis.

Material And Methods: We processed 428 patient-drawn self-descriptions of the psoriasis lesions on a supplied body template. We compared 195 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) with 89 who had this diagnosis rejected (Psor).

[Treatment of rheumatic patients in a warm climate abroad].

Adult rheumatic and psoriatic patients in Norway have been offered state-funded treatment in a warm climate since 1976. The offer has since then been extended to other patient groups with chronic diseases. We here present a program, which mainly consists of intensive physical treatment in a warm, sunny and dry climate, for adults with chronic rheumatic disease.