Nutritional profile in rheumatoid arthritis

Area of Science:

• Rheumatology
• Nutrition Science
• Public Health

Background:

• Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is associated with increased cardiovascular risk, potentially exacerbated by obesity.
• Understanding the nutritional status of RA patients is crucial for managing comorbidities like atherosclerosis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the nutritional profile of individuals diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis.
• To identify prevalence of overweight, obesity, and muscle depletion in RA patients.

Main Methods:

• An observational, cross-sectional study was conducted on 102 RA patients.
• Nutritional status was assessed using Body Mass Index (BMI), waist-hip ratio, bicipital skinfold (BSF), triceps skinfold (TSF), and arm muscle circumference (AMC).
• Statistical analyses included Fisher's exact test, chi-square, Mann Whitney, unpaired Student t-tests, and Spearman correlation.

Main Results:

• The study included 102 RA patients (14% men, 88% women) with a mean age of 52.1 years and disease duration of 10.6 years.
• A high prevalence of overweight (65.5%) and obesity was observed based on BMI.
• While 74.5% had normal bicipital skinfold and 83.3% normal triceps skinfold, a significant minority (25.5% and 16.7%, respectively) showed signs of muscle depletion.

Conclusions:

• Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis exhibit a high prevalence of overweight and obesity.
• A small but notable frequency of muscle depletion was identified in the RA patient cohort.
• Nutritional status, particularly weight and muscle mass, warrants attention in the comprehensive care of RA patients.