AccScience Publishing / JCTR / Online First / DOI: 10.36922/JCTR025290042
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ORIGINAL ARTICLE

The impact of fibromyalgia: A cross-sectional examination across different life domains

Carlos Eduardo Consentino Machado1 ,  Guilherme Welter Wendt1*
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1 Health Sciences Center, Postgraduate Program in Applied Health Sciences, Western Paraná State University, Francisco Beltrão, Paraná, Brazil
JCTR, 025290042 https://doi.org/10.36922/JCTR025290042
Received: 19 July 2025 | Revised: 12 August 2025 | Accepted: 18 August 2025 | Published online: 2 September 2025
© 2025 by the Author(s). This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution -Noncommercial 4.0 International License (CC-by the license) ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ )
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Abstract

Background: Fibromyalgia is a complex, multifactorial chronic pain syndrome characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain. Its symptoms significantly impact patients’ quality of life, functional capacity, autonomy, and the ability to work or engage in leisure activities. Aims: Given the numerous hypotheses regarding the etiology of fibromyalgia, the difficulties faced by healthcare professionals in its diagnosis and management, and its substantial negative impact on the quality of life of those affected, this study aims to characterize the patient sample and assess the condition’s impact across various life domains. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with participants of both sexes, achieving a statistical power of 99%. Results: A higher prevalence of fibromyalgia was observed in individuals who reported being in a stable union (71.76%) and who possessed higher education (45.78%). The majority (56.47%) reported “very severe” pain. Significant differences were found in all evaluated domains: leisure, work, self-care, ability to exercise, functionality, and quality of life, indicating a significant deterioration following fibromyalgia diagnosis. Conclusion: The observed pattern of functional decline across various domains supports the allostatic load model of chronic pain and provides empirical evidence for the fear-avoidance model. Relevance for patients: Integrated treatments addressing physical and psychological aspects simultaneously may be, therefore, more effective.

Keywords
Epidemiology
Chronic pain
Quality of life
Public health
Funding
This study was funded by the Araucaria Foundation (productivity grant number: 140/2025).
Conflict of interest
The authors declare they have no competing interests.
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Journal of Clinical and Translational Research, Electronic ISSN: 2424-810X Print ISSN: 2382-6533, Published by AccScience Publishing
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