Association of body composition with disease activity and disability in rheumatoid arthritis

Background/Aims To explore the associations between body composition and pain, disease activity, disability in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods The study enrolled 335 patients with RA underwent measurement an InBody analyzer. of mass index (BMI), fat mass, skeletal muscle activity score 28 joints (DAS28), derived to measure subjective component DAS28 (DAS28-P), a pain visual analogue scale (VAS), measured health assessment questionnaire (HAQ) were explored. Obesity was defined as BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2. Results median (interquartile range) duration 6 years (3.5 9) mean 3.6 ± 1.1. 23.6 kg/m2 109 (32.5%) obese. Compared non-obese patients, obese had higher C-reactive protein (1.68 mg/dL vs. < 0.1 mg/dL, p = 0.013), VAS (40 35, 0.031), DAS28-erythrocyte sedimentation rate (3.75 1.18 3.46 1.11, 0.031). In multivariate regression analysis, females positively associated current steroid dose, HAQ score, while older age, DAS28, lower fat/skeletal ratio. DAS28-P ratio HAQ. Conclusions Body composition, such ratio, is significantly female patients.