Abstract
Objective: To clarify lifestyle characteristics of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with sarcopenia.
Subjects and Methods: A total of 208 consecutive RA outpatients were assessed. Skeletal muscle mass was measured by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA). The criterion of sarcopenia was defined as a low skeletal muscle index (appendicular muscle mass/height2 , kg/m2; men, ≤6.87 kg/m2; women, ≤5.46 kg/m2; reference population, Japanese young adults aged 18-40 years). Brief-type self-administered diet history questionnaire (BDHQ) was used for investigation of the intake of energy, nutrients and food.
Results: In RA patients, the sarcopenia group showed significantly higher disease activity and lower activity of daily living (ADL) compared to those in the non-sarcopenia group. In addition, a greater number of patients in the sarcopenia group had exercise restrictions than in the non-sarcopenia group. Calcium intake had a tendency to be lower, and intake of milk and other dairy products was significantly lower, in the sarcopenia group than in the non-sarcopenia group.
Conclusion: Exercise restriction, low ADL, and low intake of milk and other dairy products were determined to be the lifestyle characteristics of RA patients with sarcopenia.
