Current nutritional status of patients with rheumatic diseases in the population of Poland

The aim of the study was to evaluate the current state of nutrition of patients with rheumatic diseases in the Polish population.

An anonymous questionnaire study was carried out among the patients of the Institute of Rheumatology in Warsaw in the fourth quarter of 2012. Five hundred questionnaires were distributed, and 397 questionnaires were collected and accepted for further analysis (response rate = 79%).

Overweight or obesity was present in more than half (53%) of the patients (overweight in 30.5% of respondents, obesity in 22.6%). Among obese subjects, 43% of men and 37% of women in the study think that their diet is correct. Sixty-eight percent of respondents declared that they do not follow any special diet and only 18% declared that they follow a diet with a reduced quantity of monosaccharides (no sweets). A milk-free diet was followed by 7% of respondents, a meat-free diet by 6%, and a fruit-and-vegetable diet by 5%. Dietary supplements were regularly used by 26.7% of respondents, whereas 33.8% did not use them at all. The average assessment of physical aptitude (Health Assessment Questionnaire - HAQ) in the group of respondents was 0.71. No statistically significant differences were found between higher level of disability (e.g. HAQ ≥ 1) and the type of diet followed (p = 0.678) or body mass index (BMI) value (p = 0.864) in relation to persons with the value of HAQ < 1.

More than half of patients suffering from rheumatic diseases are overweight or obese, which corresponds to the body weight profile of the population of Poland. Most patients diagnosed with rheumatic diseases do not follow any special diet. In spite of the frequent use of dietary supplements, the patients do not consult a doctor or a dietician about it. The type of diet and BMI value do not differ according to the level of disability.