Phenotypes of body composition, physical performance and quality of life in women with rheumatoid arthritis

Aim. To evaluate the frequency of different body composition phenotypes, physical performance (PP) and their relationship with quality of life in women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Materials and methods. The study included 157 women (average age 58.6±8.8 years) with RA. Clinical and laboratory examination, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, quality of life assessment according to the questionnaires EQ-5D (European Quality of Life Questionnaire), HADS (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale) and RAID (Rheumatoid Arthritis Impact of Disease), determination of muscle strength and the PP of skeletal muscles were carried out.

Results. Osteoporotic, sarcopenic and osteosarcopenic phenotypes of body composition were identified in 27 (17%), 16 (10%) and 16 (10%) patients, respectively; 139 (88.5%) people had low muscle strength, and 96 (61.1%) had reduced PP. Quality of life according to the EQ-5D index and RAID, the severity of depression according to HADS in women with different phenotypes of body composition did not differ. Women with osteosarcopenic phenotype had worse indicators for EQ-5D-VAS (VAS – visual analog scale), and patients with sarcopenic phenotype had more severe anxiety according to the HADS questionnaire compared to those with normal phenotype (p=0.014 and p=0.027, respectively). The quality of life according to all questionnaires was significantly worse in patients with reduced PP.

Conclusion. Pathological phenotypes of body composition were found in 37% of RA patients. A decrease in muscle strength was revealed in 88.5%, and a low PP – in 61.1% of patients. The relationship between quality of life and body composition has not been established, at the same time quality of life associated with the PP of skeletal muscles.