Body composition phenotypes in rheumatoid arthritis

Abstract

Objective. To study body composition phenotypes, the frequency of osteoporosis (OP), sarcopenia (SP), and obesity in postmenopausal women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Material and methods. 99 women (aged 40-75 years) with RA were enrolled in the study. All patients were interviewed using a special questionnaire. Anthropometric measurements and muscle strength determination were also peiformed. Bone mineral density and body composition were assessed with dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. Results. The frequency of OP was 31.3 % and the confirmed SP was 21.2 %. Isolated osteopenic phenotype was found in 14.1 %, osteosarcopenia - in 6.1 %, isolated sarcopenic phenotype - in 2.0 %, and phenotypes with obesity (osteopenic obesity, osteosarcopenic obesity and isolated obesity) - in 70.7 % of patients. Only 7.1 % of women had healthy phenotype. Conclusion. Patients with RA had combined phenotypes of body composition more often than isolated ones. Phenotypes with obesity determined by densitometry were the most common.