OP0066-HPR Performance-Based Memory Is Not Impaired in fibromyalgia. A Study in A Large Sample Also Testing Gender Differences. The al-Άndalus Project. (15th July 2016) - Estévez-Lόpez, F.
Abstract : Background: Many fibromyalgia (FM) patients experience a deteriorated cognitive function. This is one of the reasons why FM diagnosis has been moved from a pain-focused classification to a more encompassing diagnosis including cognitive difficulties. It is noteworthy that self-reported cognitive difficulties by FM patients are commonly inaccurate (1). Additionally, when cognitive function is measured by performance-based tests in FM patients, with some studies claiming the existence of cognitive deficits and other studies concluding a lack of such impairments. Finally, most of previous studies measuring performance-based memory was conducted in relatively small samples and did not examine gender differences. Objectives: The aim of the present study was to compare performance-based memory of FM patients and non-FM controls and to assess potential gender differences. Methods: A total of 507 FM patients (21 men) and 308 non-FM controls (57 men) participated in the present cross-sectional study. Four composite scores were obtained by means of the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT): learning rate, proactive and retroactive interference, and retention. Mixed-design analyses of covariance (ANCOVA) were performed on each of the RAVLT composite scores (within-subjects factor) with sample group (FM vs. non-FM controls) and gender as between-subjects factors, and education level as covariate. Results: Performance-based memory observed in FM and non-FM participants was similar in every single composite score of the RAVLT (all P>0.05). There were not gender differences in proactive interference, retroactive interference and retention (all P>0.05), although women had a higher learning rate (i.e. greater number of words recalled) than men (P<0.01). Conclusions: Our results do not support performance-based memory impairments in FM. Overall, gender differences were not observed in performance-based memory; except for learning rate, where women outperformed men regardless of sample group (i.e., FM or non-FM). Therefore, the gender differences observed seem to be an extension of the picture observed in general population rather than a disease-specific feature. Future research focusing on factors that are associated with the perception of memory deficits and the discrepancy between objective and subjective measures of memory performance is warranted. References: Grace, GM; et al. (1999). Concentration and memory deficits in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome. J Clin Exp Neuropsychol; 21(4), 477–487. Acknowledgement: This study was funded by the Spanish Ministries of Economy and Competitiveness [I+D+I DEP2013–40908-R, I+D+I DEP2010–15639, BES-2014–067612, and BES-2011–047133] and Education [FPU12/00963; FPU14/12518, and FPU13/01088]. Disclosure of Interest: None declared