Masayo Kojima1, Toshihisa Kojima2, Yuko Waguri-Nagaya3,4, Nobunori Takahashi2, Shuji Asai2, Yasumori Sobue2,5, Tsuyoshi Nishiume2,6, Mochihito Suzuki2, Hiroto Mitsui7, Yohei Kawaguchi3, Gen Kuroyanagi8, Mikako Yasuoka1, Miki Watanabe9, Sadao Suzuki9, Hidenori Arai10. 1. Department of Frailty Research, Center for Gerontology and Social Science, National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Obu, Japan. 2. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan. 3. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan. 4. Center of Joint Surgery for Rheumatic Diseases and Osteoporosis, Nagoya City East Medical Center, Nagoya, Japan. 5. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Japanese Red Cross Nagoya Daiichi Hospital, Nagoya, Japan. 6. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Okazaki City Hospital, Okazaki, Japan. 7. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Aichi Medical University, Nagoya, Japan. 8. Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan. 9. Department of Public Health, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan. 10. National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Obu, Japan.
Abstract
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.
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.
Authors: Peter Hanlon; Fraser Morton; Stefan Siebert; Bhautesh D Jani; Barbara I Nicholl; Jim Lewsey; David McAllister; Frances S Mair Journal: RMD Open Date: 2022-03