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Physical Activity in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Does activity intensity affect cardiovascular risk?

Publish date:: September 7, 2015

Physical activity (PA) at the light intensities typically practiced by people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are associated favorably with cardiovascular markers, and lower disability and disease activity, according to a study of 98 patients with RA. Researchers found:

• Patients spent 9.8 hours/day being sedentary, 3.5 hours/day in very light PA, 2.1 hours/day in light PA, and 35 minutes/day in moderate PA.

• Only 17% of patients were physically active (≥ 150 minutes/week of moderate PA in minute bouts).

• Very light, light, and moderate PA were inversely associated with most cardiovascular risk factors.

• Associations between PA and cardiovascular markers were either equivalent or stronger at very light and light intensities vs moderate intensity.

Citation: Khoja SS, Almedia GJ, Wasko MC, Terhorst L, Piva SR. Light intensity physical activity is associated with lower cardiovascular risk factor burden in rheumatoid arthritis. [Published online ahead of print August 28, 2015]. Arthritis Care Res. doi: 10.1002/acr.22711.

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