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Frailty in seropositive rheumatoid arthritis patients of working age: a cross-sectional study

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

 

  1. Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Centre of Public Health, Medical University of Vienna, Austria.
  2. Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Centre of Public Health, Medical University of Vienna, Austria. igor.grabovac@meduniwien.ac.at
  3. Department of Rheumatology and Osteology, Kaiser Franz Josef Hospital, SMZ Süd, Vienna, Austria.
  4. Karl Landsteiner Institute for Autoimmune Diseases and Rheumatology, Vienna, Austria.
  5. Karl Landsteiner Institute for Autoimmune Diseases and Rheumatology, Vienna, Austria.
  6. Department of Rheumatology and Osteology, Kaiser Franz Josef Hospital, SMZ Süd, Vienna; and Karl Landsteiner Institute for Autoimmune Diseases and Rheumatology, Vienna, Austria.
  7. Karl Landsteiner Institute for Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, and Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Kaiser Franz Josef-Hospital, SMZ Süd, Vienna, Austria.
  8. Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Centre of Public Health, Medical University of Vienna, Austria.

CER11448
2019 Vol.37, N°4
PI 0585, PF 0592
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PMID: 30557129 [PubMed]

Received: 08/06/2018
Accepted : 03/09/2018
In Press: 19/11/2018
Published: 27/06/2019

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:
The prevalence of frailty has been widely researched in the elderly population. However, data about people of working age are scarce. The aim of this paper was to assess the prevalence of prefrailty and frailty in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients of working age, and to assess factors associated with prefrailty/frailty.
METHODS:
In this monocentric cross-sectional study, 100 RA patients aged 18-65 years were included. Frailty was measured with the Frailty Instrument for Primary Care of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE-FI) and disease activity with the Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI). In addition, disease duration (years), pain intensity (visual analogue scale) and employment status were also assessed.
RESULTS:
Fifty-five percent were robust, 30% prefrail and 15% were frail. Eighty-nine of the prefrail/frail individuals suffered from exhaustion. Compared to robust individuals, the prefrail/frail individuals had significantly higher median scores in disease activity [4.0 (Q25-Q75: 0-10) vs. 11 (Q25-Q75: 6-18)] and pain intensity [3.0 (Q25-Q75: 2.0–4.0) vs. 4.0 (Q25-Q75: 2.8-6.3)] and a higher rate of unemployment [31% vs. 53%]. In the multivariable analysis, higher disease activity (ß=0.444; p<0.001), unemployment (ß=0.243; p=0.005), higher pain intensity (ß=0.186; p=0.060) and longer disease duration (ß=0.181; p=0.020) were associated with a higher frailty score.
CONCLUSIONS:
Frailty is common in RA patients, even those of working age. As the prevalence of frailty increases with age, it is important to take this syndrome into account in younger persons and to take action to counteract frailty.

Rheumatology Article