Prevalence of rheumatoid cachexia assessed by bioelectrical impedance vector analysis and its relation with physical...

Area of Science:

• Rheumatology
• Nutrition Science
• Biophysics

Background:

• Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is often associated with detrimental body composition changes, termed rheumatoid cachexia (RC).
• The prevalence and diagnostic criteria for RC remain unclear, hindering effective management.
• Understanding RC's impact on physical function and its metabolic underpinnings is crucial for RA patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of rheumatoid cachexia (RC) in RA patients using bioelectrical impedance vector analysis (BIVA).
• To investigate the association of RC, identified by BIVA, with metabolic factors, physical function, and disease status.
• To evaluate BIVA as a diagnostic tool for RC in rheumatoid arthritis.

Main Methods:

• Bioelectrical impedance vector analysis (BIVA) was employed to identify RC based on specific graphical criteria.
• Clinical, anthropometric, biochemical, physical activity, emotional, and dietary data were collected from 94 RA patients.
• Statistical analyses, including odds ratios (OR) and confidence intervals (CI), were used to assess associations.

Main Results:

• The prevalence of RC, as assessed by BIVA, was found to be 21.28% among the studied RA patients.
• Patients with BIVA-identified RC exhibited significantly lower handgrip strength compared to those without RC.
• Disability and folic acid with methotrexate consumption were significantly associated with BIVA-assessed RC.

Conclusions:

• Bioelectrical impedance vector analysis (BIVA) is a valuable tool for assessing rheumatoid cachexia (RC) in RA patients.
• RC is associated with impaired physical function and specific medication profiles in rheumatoid arthritis.
• Physical therapy interventions may be important for improving the nutritional status of RA patients with RC.