Clustering Analysis Identifies Two Subgroups of Women with Fibromyalgia with Different Psychological, Cognitive, Health-Related and Physical Features but Similar Widespread Pressure Pain Sensitivity


 
 
 Since identification of groups of patients can help to better understand risk factors related to each group and to improve personalized therapeutic strategies, this study aimed to identify subgroups (clusters) of women with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) according to pain-related, related-disability, neuro-physiological, cognitive, health-related, psychological or physical features.
 
 
 
 Demographic, pain-related, sensory-related, related-disability, psychological, health-related, cognitive, and physical variables were collected in 113 women with FMS. Widespread pressure pain thresholds (PPTs) were also assessed. K-means clustering was used to identify groups of women without any previous assumption.
 
 
 
 Two clusters exhibiting similar widespread sensitivity to pressure pain (PPTs) but differing in the remaining variables were identified. Overall, women in one cluster exhibited higher pain intensity and related-disability, more sensitization-associated and neuropathic pain symptoms, higher kinesiophobia, hypervigilance and catastrophism levels, worse sleep quality, higher anxiety/depressive levels, lower health-related function, and worse physical function than women in the other cluster.
 
 
 
 Cluster analysis identified one group of women with FMS exhibiting worse sensory, psychological, cognitive and health-related features. Widespread sensitivity to pressure pain seems to be a common feature of FMS. Current results suggest that this group of women with FMS may need to be treated differently.
