12-years Follow-up on 166 Female Patients With Fibromyalgia or Chronic Widespread Pain

A 12-year follow-up of 166 women with fibromyalgia (FM) or chronic widespread pain (CWP).

The 166 women participated in a Randomised Controlled Trial called GAU 2004-2005 in three cities in western Sweden; Göteborg, Alingsås and Uddevalla. The RCT aimed to investigate the effect of pool exercise and patient education.

The primary aim of the present study is to examine the change of symptoms after 11-12 years in 166 women with FM or CWP and also investigate predictors of change of symptoms and work ability.

The 166 women will be contacted by mail and telephone, and asked to participate in the present follow-up study.

The follow-up examination comprises a standardised interview of symptoms and demographic variables, a battery of self-administered questionnaires and tests of physical function.

Inclusion criteria

of the present study GAU-U:

• All 166 patients who participated in the study GAU in 2004/2005. (The inclusion criteria of GAU was women with FM or CWP, 18-60 years old. Patients with widespread pain; pain in the right and left side of the body, above and below the waist, as well as axial pain, for at least three months were classified as chronic widespread pain (CWP). Patients who fulfilled the criteria for CWP and who also had pain at palpation of at least 11 of 18 pre-defined tender points were classified as fibromyalgia (FM).

Exclusion criteria

for GAU was serious physical or psychological disease)

Exclusion criteria

of the present study GAU-U:

• Patients who has developed serious physical or psychological disease since participating in the GAU 2004/2005