Physical function, disease activity, and depressive symptoms were independently associated with frailty, which affected 18.5% of working-age and up to 36.6% of older patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
Cross-Sectional (n=375)
Yes
What clinical and psychosocial factors are associated with frailty in patients with rheumatoid arthritis?
Frailty is common in RA patients across age groups and is independently associated with physical function, disease activity, and depressive symptoms.
OBJECTIVES: To investigate the clinical and psychosocial backgrounds of frailty in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. METHODS: Patients with RA between 40 and 79 years of age who visited university hospitals in an urban area were recruited. Well-validated self-reported questionnaires were used to evaluate patient physical function (Health Assessment Questionnaire, HAQ), depressive symptoms (Beck Depression Inventory-II, BDI-II), and frailty (Kihon Checklist). A 28-point Disease Activity Score (DAS-28) was calculated to evaluate RA disease activity. RESULTS: A total of 375 RA patients, 323 of whom were women, were enrolled (average age: 65.2 ± 9.7 years; average disease duration: 16.6 ± 11.9 years). The prevalence rates of frailty, working-age (40-64 years), young-old (65-74 years), and old-old (≥75 years) patients were 18.5, 28.8, and 36.6%, respectively. Higher age and longer disease duration were associated with frailty. Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that HAQ, DAS-28, and BDI-II scores were independently associated with frailty in RA patients. CONCLUSION: Frailty is common, even among working-age RA patients. Physical function, disease activity, and depressive symptoms were independently associated with frailty. A multidisciplinary intervention approach, along with adequate pharmacological therapy, may promote successful aging in patients with RA.
Kojima et al. (Sat,) conducted a cross-sectional in Rheumatoid arthritis (n=375). Physical function, disease activity, and depressive symptoms was evaluated on Frailty (assessed by Kihon Checklist). Physical function, disease activity, and depressive symptoms were independently associated with frailty, which affected 18.5% of working-age and up to 36.6% of older patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: