TY - JOUR
T1 - Cardiorespiratory fitness levels and their association with cardiovascular profile in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a cross-sectional study
AU - Metsios, George S
AU - Koutedakis, Yiannis
AU - Veldhuijzen van Zanten, Jet JCS
AU - Stavropoulos-Kalinoglou, Antonios
AU - Vitalis, Panos
AU - Duda, Joan
AU - Rouse, Peter
AU - Kitas, George
PY - 2015/12
Y1 - 2015/12
N2 - OBJECTIVE:
The aim of this study was to investigate the association of different physical fitness levels [assessed by the maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) test] with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in patients with RA.
METHODS:
A total of 150 RA patients were assessed for cardiorespiratory fitness with a VO2max test and, based on this, were split in three groups using the 33rd (18.1 ml/kg/min) and 66th (22.4 ml/kg/min) centiles. Classical and novel CVD risk factors [blood pressure, body fat, insulin resistance, cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), physical activity, CRP, fibrinogen and white cell count], 10-year CVD risk, disease activity (DAS28) and severity (HAQ) were assessed in all cases.
RESULTS:
Mean VO2max for all RA patients was 20.9 (s.d. 5.7) ml/kg/min. The 10-year CVD risk (P = 0.003), systolic blood pressure (P = 0.039), HDL (P = 0.017), insulin resistance and body fat (both at P < 0.001), CRP (P = 0.005), white blood cell count (P = 0.015) and fibrinogen (P < 0.001) were significantly different between the VO2max tertiles favouring the group with the higher VO2max levels. In multivariate analyses of variance, VO2max was significantly associated with body fat (P < 0.001), HDL (P = 0.007), insulin resistance (P < 0.003) and 10-year CVD risk (P < 0.001), even after adjustment for DAS28, HAQ and physical activity.
CONCLUSION:
VO2max levels are alarmingly low in RA patients. Higher levels of VO2max are associated with a better cardiovascular profile in this population. Future studies need to focus on developing effective behavioural interventions to improve cardiorespiratory fitness in RA.
AB - OBJECTIVE:
The aim of this study was to investigate the association of different physical fitness levels [assessed by the maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) test] with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in patients with RA.
METHODS:
A total of 150 RA patients were assessed for cardiorespiratory fitness with a VO2max test and, based on this, were split in three groups using the 33rd (18.1 ml/kg/min) and 66th (22.4 ml/kg/min) centiles. Classical and novel CVD risk factors [blood pressure, body fat, insulin resistance, cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), physical activity, CRP, fibrinogen and white cell count], 10-year CVD risk, disease activity (DAS28) and severity (HAQ) were assessed in all cases.
RESULTS:
Mean VO2max for all RA patients was 20.9 (s.d. 5.7) ml/kg/min. The 10-year CVD risk (P = 0.003), systolic blood pressure (P = 0.039), HDL (P = 0.017), insulin resistance and body fat (both at P < 0.001), CRP (P = 0.005), white blood cell count (P = 0.015) and fibrinogen (P < 0.001) were significantly different between the VO2max tertiles favouring the group with the higher VO2max levels. In multivariate analyses of variance, VO2max was significantly associated with body fat (P < 0.001), HDL (P = 0.007), insulin resistance (P < 0.003) and 10-year CVD risk (P < 0.001), even after adjustment for DAS28, HAQ and physical activity.
CONCLUSION:
VO2max levels are alarmingly low in RA patients. Higher levels of VO2max are associated with a better cardiovascular profile in this population. Future studies need to focus on developing effective behavioural interventions to improve cardiorespiratory fitness in RA.
U2 - 10.1093/rheumatology/kev035
DO - 10.1093/rheumatology/kev035
M3 - Article
SN - 1462-0324
VL - 54
SP - 2215
EP - 2220
JO - Rheumatology (Oxford)
JF - Rheumatology (Oxford)
IS - 12
ER -
