The relation between sarcopenia, associated factors, and disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Abstract

Aim The aim of this study was to detect the incidence of sarcopenia in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and study associated factors. Patients and methods Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry was used to assess the body composition of 80 patients with RA and 80 healthy controls. Sarcopenia was defined as a relative skeletal muscle index of less than 5.5 kg/m2 in male and less than 7.26 kg/m2 in female patients. BMI, waist circumference, and disease activity score 28 erythrocyte sedimentation rate were used to assess disease activity. Functional disability was measured using Health Assessment Questionnaire, and 4-m gait speed test was used to determine patient's physical performance. Results The relative skeletal muscle index was significantly lower in the RA group (6.1 ± 1.2 vs. 7.2 ± 0.9 kg/m2, P Conclusion Sarcopenia is a common finding in patients with RA but does not have an association with disease activity, functional disability, or physical performance. Future studies are required for better comprehension of sarcopenia to clear up its relationship with different comorbidities.