A Comparative Study on the Pain Threshold Experienced by Fibromyalgia Patients Following Acute SARS-CoV-2 Infection

Area of Science:

• Rheumatology
• Infectious Diseases
• Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

• Fibromyalgia (FM) etiology and pathogenesis have significant knowledge gaps.
• The COVID-19 pandemic introduced new complexities, including viral infection and vaccination, impacting FM progression and treatment response.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate if acute COVID-19 infection, even after recovery, alters the response to non-pharmacological treatment in fibromyalgia patients.
• To investigate the specific impact on pain perception and threshold.

Main Methods:

• 128 fibromyalgia patients diagnosed pre-pandemic were analyzed.
• Patients were grouped based on acute SARS-CoV-2 infection history and COVID-19 vaccination status.
• All participants underwent the same rehabilitation program: cognitive therapy and kinesitherapy.

Main Results:

• Patients without a history of COVID-19 showed significantly greater pain reduction compared to those with a SARS-CoV-2 infection history (p < 0.001).
• Vaccinated patients without COVID-19 infection demonstrated the most significant improvement in pain threshold (p < 0.001).
• The group without prior COVID-19 infection who were vaccinated was the only group to show a statistically significant improvement in pain severity (p = 0.009).

Conclusions:

• Acute SARS-CoV-2 infection may negatively affect the response to non-pharmacological treatments for fibromyalgia pain.
• COVID-19 vaccination status is a crucial factor influencing pain management outcomes in fibromyalgia patients.
• Clinicians should consider a patient's SARS-CoV-2 infection history and vaccination status when managing fibromyalgia pain.