Body composition and skeletal muscles status in patients with rheumatoid arthritis during treatment with biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs

Objective: to evaluate body composition and functional status of muscle tissue in women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in relation to background therapy.

Material and methods. The study included 138 patients (mean age 60.8±8.6 years) with confirmed RA. Of these, 18 received tumor necrosis factor-α inhibitors, 30 rituximab, 19 abatacept and 71 methotrexate (MTX) monotherapy. A clinical and laboratory examination, evaluation of body composition using dual-energy X-ray densitometry and tests to assess muscle strength and physical performance were performed.

Results and discussion. Muscle and fat mass, bone mineral density and muscle strength did not differ depending on the background therapy. At the same time, gait speed ≤0.8 m/s was less frequent in women receiving biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) compared to MT monotherapy (p<0.001). Significant correlations were found between bDMARD therapy and physical performance as assessed by the results of a short physical performance battery (p=0.035) and gait speed (p=0.003). Logistic regression analysis confirmed the association between bDMARD therapy and muscle functional state. Conclusion. No differences in body composition were found depending on the type of background therapy. bDMARD therapy was associated with better skeletal muscle functional state as assessed by gait speed and a short physical performance battery compared to MT monotherapy. Keywords: rheumatoid arthritis; body composition; biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs; physical performance> < 0.001). Significant correlations were found between bDMARD therapy and physical performance as assessed by the results of a short physical performance battery (p=0.035) and gait speed (p=0.003). Logistic regression analysis confirmed the association between bDMARD therapy and muscle functional state.

Conclusion. No differences in body composition were found depending on the type of background therapy. bDMARD therapy was associated with better skeletal muscle functional state as assessed by gait speed and a short physical performance battery compared to MT monotherapy.

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