Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38748219›Full record

SynthesisRheumatology international2024

Cluster analysis in fibromyalgia: a systematic review.

Anna Carolyna Gianlorenço, Valton Costa, Walter Fabris-Moraes, Maryela Menacho, Luana Gola Alves, Daniela Martinez-Magallanes, Felipe Fregni

Abstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Rheumatology international, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 18 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
18citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

18 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Trial
  2. Observational
  3. Review
  4. Article
  5. Article
  6. Article
  7. Article
  8. Article
  9. Article
  10. Article
  11. [Digital treatment of fibromyalgia].Zeitschrift fur Rheumatologie · 2025
    Review
  12. Article
  13. Article
  14. Article
  15. Article
  16. Article
  17. Article
  18. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Anna Carolyna GianlorençoNeuroscience and Neurological Rehabilitation Laboratory, Physical Therapy Department, Federal University of Sao Carlos, Sao Carlos, SP, Brazil.ORCID 0000-0002-7334-3835
Valton CostaNeuroscience and Neurological Rehabilitation Laboratory, Physical Therapy Department, Federal University of Sao Carlos, Sao Carlos, SP, Brazil.ORCID 0000-0002-2356-7523
Walter Fabris-MoraesSpaulding Neuromodulation Center and Center for Clinical Research Learning, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 1575 Cambridge Street, Cambridge, MA, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-8467-8454
Maryela MenachoNeuroscience and Neurological Rehabilitation Laboratory, Physical Therapy Department, Federal University of Sao Carlos, Sao Carlos, SP, Brazil.ORCID 0000-0001-9507-2215
Luana Gola AlvesSpaulding Neuromodulation Center and Center for Clinical Research Learning, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 1575 Cambridge Street, Cambridge, MA, USA.ORCID 0009-0008-7428-8090
Daniela Martinez-MagallanesSpaulding Neuromodulation Center and Center for Clinical Research Learning, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 1575 Cambridge Street, Cambridge, MA, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-8428-9037
Felipe FregniSpaulding Neuromodulation Center and Center for Clinical Research Learning, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 1575 Cambridge Street, Cambridge, MA, USA. fregni.felipe@mgh.harvard.edu.ORCID 0000-0002-1703-7526

Funding

NIH HHS 1R01AT009491-01A1
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe multifaceted nature of Fibromyalgia syndrome (FM) symptoms has been explored through clusters analysis.

objectiveTo synthesize the cluster research on FM (variables, methods, patient subgroups, and evaluation metrics).

methodsWe performed a systematic review following the PRISMA recommendations. Independent searches were performed on PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Central, employing the terms "fibromyalgia" and "cluster analysis". We included studies dated to January 2024, using the cluster analysis to assess any physical, psychological, clinical, or biomedical variables in FM subjects, and descriptively synthesized the studies in terms of design, cluster method, and resulting patient profiles.

resultsWe included 39 studies. Most with a cross-sectional design aiming to classify subsets based on the severity, adjustment, symptomatic manifestations, psychological profiles, and response to treatment, based on demographic and clinical variables. Two to four different profiles were found according to the levels of severity and adjustment to FMS. According to symptom manifestation, two to three clusters described the predominance of pain versus fatigue, and thermal pain sensitivity (less versus more sensitive). Other clusters revealed profiles of personality (pathological versus non-pathological) and psychological vulnerability (suicidal ideation). Additionally, studies identified different responses to treatment (pharmacological and multimodal).

conclusionSeveral profiles exist within FMS population, which point out to the need for specific treatment options given the different profiles and an efficient allocation of healthcare resources. We notice a need towards more objective measures, and the validation of the cluster results. Further research might investigate some of the assumptions of these findings, which are further discussed in this paper.

Indexed as

FibromyalgiaCluster AnalysisFatigueFemaleHumansSeverity of Illness IndexCluster analysisFibromyalgiaSystematic review

Identifiers

PMID38748219

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.