Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of medically unexplained rheumatic symptoms amongst patients newly referred to a rheumatology out-patient service and to examine their relationship with pain, disability, socioeconomic factors and the presence of emotional disorders (anxiety, depression and panic). METHODS: A sample of newly referred consecutive patients to a hospital-based, regional rheumatology service was administered a questionnaire for assessment of emotional disorders, pain, health status and socioeconomic factors. Rheumatologists rated the degree to which patients' symptoms were explained by organic disease (organicity rating). RESULTS: Two hundred and fifty-six patients were eligible and 203 (79%) participated. The sample included 69% females and mean age was 50 yr. Ninety-three (46%) had symptoms that were completely explained, 52 (26%) largely explained, 41 (20%) somewhat explained and 17 (8%) not at all explained by organic disease. Patients whose symptoms were of 'low organicity' (somewhat or not at all explained) were more likely to be female [relative risk (RR) 1.8, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.0-3.1], younger (mean age 44 vs 52 yr, P<0.001) and to report more somatic symptoms (median 2 vs 1, P=0.021). On univariate analysis they were more likely to be experiencing financial hardship (RR 1.7, 95% CI 1.1-2.6) and work dissatisfaction (RR 1.6, 95% CI 1.0-2.4) and to live in rented housing (RR 1.8, 95% CI 1.2-2.8) or with dependent relatives (RR 1.6, 95% CI 1.0-2.5). Logistic regression showed that female gender and living in rented housing were the significant independent predictors of low organicity. Organicity ratings were not associated with pain severity, disability, physical and mental health status or the presence of emotional disorders. CONCLUSIONS: Twenty-nine per cent of patients newly referred to rheumatology clinics had symptoms that were poorly explained by identifiable rheumatic disease. Having unexplained symptoms was associated with socioeconomic factors but not levels of pain, disability or emotional disorders

Type

Journal article

Journal

Rheumatology.(Oxford)

Publication Date

01/2003

Volume

42

Pages

108 - 112

Keywords

FSS, prevalence, rheumatology