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Evaluation of visual reaction time in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome

  • Observational Research
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Abstract

Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) has previously been linked to cognitive dysfunction. The aim of this study was to compare visual reaction time (RT) between FMS patients and healthy subjects. The relationship was examined between RT and clinical parameters in FMS patients, and it was aimed to evaluate the effect of drugs used in the treatment of FMS on RT. A total of 112 FMS patients and 110 healthy volunteers were included in this cross-sectional research. Cognitive performance was evaluated with visual RT measurements. FMS patients were assessed using the Fibromyalgia impact questionnaire (FIQ), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). The drugs used in the treatment of FMS were recorded. Significantly prolonged visual RT measurements were detected in FMS patients (p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in RT measurements between the patients who did not use drugs and those who were treated with serotonin noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor, gabapentinoid and combination therapy (p > 0.05). RT was significantly correlated with FIQ, BDI and PSQI scores in FMS patients (rho: 0.290, p = 0.002 for FIQ; rho: 0.253, p = 0.007 for BDI and rho: 0.312, p = 0.001 for PSQI). No significant correlation was detected between RT scores and FSS values (p > 0.05). Visual RT measurements were seen to be deteriorated in FMS patients. As the disease severity, depression level, and sleep disturbance increased, so the impairment in visual RT values became more prominent. The drugs used in the FMS treatment did not influence the RT scores. Cognitive performance tests should be incorporated in the physical examination and follow-up courses of FMS patients.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 25 Aralık State Hospital, Gaziantep, Turkey

    Mehmet Emre Kurtgil

  2. Faculty of Medicine, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam University, Kahramanmaraş, Turkey

    Burhan Fatih Kocyigit, Ejder Berk & Tuba Tulay Koca

  3. Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Application and Research Center, Hasan Kalyoncu University, Gaziantep, Turkey

    Ahmet Akyol

  4. Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Sancaktepe Şehit Prof Dr İlhan Varank Training and Research Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey

    Vedat Nacitarhan

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  1. Mehmet Emre Kurtgil
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Contributions

MEK, BFK, AA and VN: designed the study. MEK, BFK, EB, TTK and VN: reviewed the articles and provided the data. BFK and AA: analyzed the data. MEK, EB and TTK: contributed the analysis tools. MEK, BFK, EB, TTK, AA and VN: authored and reviewed drafts of the paper. MEK, BFK and AA: prepared the tables and figure. MEK, BFK, EB, TTK, AA and VN: approved the final manuscript as submitted and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

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Correspondence to Burhan Fatih Kocyigit.

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The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Ethical approval

Ethics committee approval was obtained from the Faculty of Medicine Clinical Research Ethics Committee of our university (dated 20.02.2019 and numbered 15.03.2019). Before the data collection process, all participants were informed and the research was conducted on a voluntary basis.

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Kurtgil, M.E., Kocyigit, B.F., Berk, E. et al. Evaluation of visual reaction time in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome. Rheumatol Int 42, 853–859 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00296-022-05107-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00296-022-05107-2

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