Awarenss of FMF Among Caregivers

INTRODUCTION: Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is one of the most frequent genetic diseases with a frequency of 1/1000 in our country. We aimed to assess the awareness of FMF among caregivers of patients with and without FMF.
METHODS: Caregivers of the FMF patients (Group1) and the others who were in the hospital for other reasons (Group2) were subjected to a questionnaire about FMF and the results were compared between them.
RESULTS: The mean ages were similar between Group1 (n=142) and Group2 (n=207). Female gender and lower educational status were more frequent in Group1. Group1 was more aware that recurrent fever, joint pain, abdominal pain, appearing in attacks are seen in FMF; the disease is inherited rather than contagious; a specific treatment exists; risk of kidney and heart failure increases when not treated; attacks are triggered by sleeplessness, tiredness and emotional stress; colchicine does not provide complete recovery; diarrhea is the most common side effect of colchicine (p<0.05). However, awareness about chest pain as a feature, infertility as a complication, non-adherence as a trigger for the disease and the statement that patients feel healthy between the attacks were similar (p>0.05). Interestingly, Group 2 was more aware that different treatment options exist (p=0.04). The total score was higher in Group 1 and in participants who graduated from secondary school or less (p<0.01).
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Being a caregiver of a patient caused a higher level of awareness of FMF regardless of education level, however, they still need to be informed about current developments.