The Comparative Burden of Chronic Widespread Pain and Fibromyalgia in the United States.

Background/purpose: Little information exists on the comparative patient and economic burden of chronic widespread pain (CWP) and fibromyalgia (FM) in the United States.

Methods: This multistage, observational study included an online screening survey of a large geographically diverse US sample to assess CWP status, a physician/site visit to determine FM diagnosis, and an online subject questionnaire to capture clinical characteristics, pain, health status, functioning, sleep, healthcare resource use (HRU), productivity, and costs. Based on the screener and physician evaluation, mutually exclusive groups of subjects without CWP (CWP-), with CWP but without FM (CWP+), and with confirmed FM were identified.

The comparative economic burden of mild, moderate, and severe fibromyalgia: results from a retrospective chart review and cross-sectional survey of working-age U.S. adults.

Background: Patients with fibromyalgia report persistent widespread pain, fatigue, and substantial functional limitations, which may lead to high health resource use (HRU) and lost productivity. Previous analyses of the U.S.

Efficient practices associated with diagnosis, treatment and management of fibromyalgia among primary care physicians.

Objectives: To describe beliefs and practice patterns of primary care physicians (PCPs) providing fibromyalgia (FM) care, and to characterize differences between PCPs who report being able to provide timely and beneficial care versus the remaining PCPs.

Methods: A mixed-methods approach including surveys followed by semi-structured focus groups among United States-based PCPs in seven cities was used. Post hoc, a composite threshold of timely and beneficial care, defined as PCPs reports of at least one-half of their patients achieving an 'acceptable' quality of life within one to four office visits after diagnosis, was created to compare subgroups.

The comparative burden of mild, moderate and severe fibromyalgia: results from a cross-sectional survey in the United States.

Background: Fibromyalgia (FM) is characterized by chronic, widespread pain, fatigue, and other symptoms; yet few studies have comprehensively assessed its humanistic burden. This observational study evaluates the impact of FM severity on patients' symptoms, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and productivity in the United States.

Methods: 203 FM subjects were recruited from 20 physician offices.

The impact of 'best-practice' patient care in fibromyalgia on practice economics.

Objective: The office time required for primary care physicians (PCPs) to diagnose, treat and manage fibromyalgia (FM) patients can be extensive. The study objective was to determine if PCPs can positively impact practice economics by requiring fewer patient visits and less office time, while still achieving an acceptable quality of life, as reported by the physician.

Study Design: Survey of PCPs who diagnose, manage and treat FM patients.

Treatment patterns among physician specialties in the management of fibromyalgia: results of a cross-sectional study in the United States.

Background: Fibromyalgia (FM) is characterized by persistent and widespread pain and often associated with other symptoms and comorbidities. Thus, FM patients seek care from multiple physician specialties. This study compared prescribing patterns, patient-reported outcomes (PROs), healthcare resource use (HRU), and direct costs related to FM in routine clinical practice across physician specialties.