Evaluation of quality of life, anxiety, depression, and sleep quality in female fibromyalgia patients with and without migraine

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to assess the prevalence and severity of migraine among fibromyalgia patients as well as to assess its impact on quality of life, anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbances.

Methods: A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted among 115 women (mean age 42.1 ± 5.44 years). Fibromyalgia was diagnosed in 48 participants using the 2016 revised American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria; 67 participants without fibromyalgia served as the control group. Participants were classified into four subgroups based on fibromyalgia and migraine status. The Headache Impact Test-6 (HIT-6), Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and a quality of life (QoL) scale were used for assessment.

Results: The fibromyalgia group exhibited a significantly greater prevalence of migraine compared to the control group (43.75% vs. 13.43%, p < 0.001). Fibromyalgia patients reported greater severe headache intensity (p < 0.001), higher anxiety and depression scores (p < 0.001), poorer sleep quality (p < 0.001), and reduced QoL (p < 0.001). Subgroup analysis showed that the presence of migraine did not significantly affect disease activity, fatigue, or psychological symptoms in fibromyalgia patients, but was associated with worse sleep quality.

Conclusion: Patients with fibromyalgia exhibited increased migraine frequency, greater psychological distress, and more impairment of sleep and quality of life compared to controls. While comorbid migraine does not demonstrably worsen the overall symptomatic burden, it may increase sleep disturbances, underscoring the value of a multidisciplinary care model.