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Rheumatoid Arthritis
Muscle density in rheumatoid arthritis: Associations with disease features and functional outcomes
Article first published online: 27 JUL 2012
DOI: 10.1002/art.34464
Copyright © 2012 by the American College of Rheumatology
1529-0131/asset/cover.gif?v=1&s=104d5c2bb8ef72deba26790b855af7ab80697a0e "Arthritis & Rheumatism")
Additional Information
How to Cite
Kramer, H. R., Fontaine, K. R., Bathon, J. M. and Giles, J. T. (2012), Muscle density in rheumatoid arthritis: Associations with disease features and functional outcomes. Arthritis & Rheumatism, 64: 2438–2450. doi: 10.1002/art.34464
Publication History
- Issue published online: 27 JUL 2012
- Article first published online: 27 JUL 2012
- Accepted manuscript online: 5 MAR 2012 03:43PM EST
- Manuscript Accepted: 28 FEB 2012
- Manuscript Received: 25 JUL 2011
Funded by
- NIH (National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases). Grant Numbers: AR-050026-01, 1K23-AR-054112-01
- Abbott Medical Student Research Preceptorship award from the Research and Education Foundation of the American College of Rheumatology
- Clinical Investigator Fellowship award from the Research and Education Foundation of the American College of Rheumatology
- NIH (General Clinical Research Center grant). Grant Number: M01-RR-02719
- Abstract
- Article
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- Cited By
Abstract
Objective
To explore the associations between measures of body composition derived from computed tomography (CT) of the thigh and functional outcomes in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Methods
Patients with RA underwent bilateral midfemoral quantitative CT for measurement of thigh fat area (TFA), thigh muscle area (TMA), and thigh muscle density (TMD). The associations of thigh-composition measures with disability and physical performance, as measured with the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ), the Valued Life Activities (VLAs), and the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) instruments, were explored in the total cohort and in the cohort subgrouped by sex, controlling for pertinent demographic, lifestyle, and RA disease and treatment covariates.
Results
A total of 152 RA patients were studied. Among the potential determinants of TMD, older age, longer duration of sedentary activity, longer duration of RA, higher tender joint count, higher serum interleukin-6 levels, use of glucocorticoids, and nonuse of hydroxychloroquine were all significantly associated with lower TMD in multivariable models. RA characteristics accounted for 63% of the explainable variability in TMD. When comodeled, higher TFA and lower TMD, but not lower TMA, were significantly and independently associated with higher HAQ scores, lower Short Form 36 health survey physical functioning scores, lower composite SPPB scores, and a greater proportion of affected obligatory VLAs.
Conclusion
Thigh CT–derived measures of body composition, particularly fat area and muscle density, were strongly associated with disability and physical performance in RA patients, with RA disease features as potential determinants. Efforts to reduce fat and improve muscle quality may reduce disability in this population with impaired physical functioning.