Abstract

FRANCO, Marco et al. Physical activity in patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis: Cross Sectional Study. Rev. parag. reumatol. [online]. 2021, vol.7, n.2, pp.49-54. ISSN 2413-4341.  https://doi.org/10.18004/rpr/2021.07.02.49.

Introduction: Physical activity (PA) has received increasing interest as adjuvant therapy for patients with rheumatologic diseases. However, there is scarce information on PA performed by rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients in Paraguay.

Objective: To analyze the PA of patients diagnosed with RA and the factors associated with the performance of PA.

Methodology: The study was cross-sectional and patients with RA were included consecutively at the time of their regular check-up with their treating rheumatologist. PA was calculated with the GPAQ (Global Physical Activity Questionnaire) and socio demographic and clinical variables were recorded to analyze their relationship with the performance of PA.

Results: 187 patients were included, of whom 45.5% were not sufficiently active according to World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations. Age, sex and hypothyroidism were the variables associated with PA.

Conclusion: A significant proportion of RA patients did not perform sufficient PA according to WHO recommendations in our study. This highlights the importance of analyzing the factors involved in this outcome in order to overcome them and find strategies that favor regular PA.

Keywords : physical activity; rheumatoid arthritis..

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