Factors associated with physical activity engagement among adults with rheumatoid arthritis: A cross-sectional study

Physical activity (PA) has a number of benefits for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. However, these patients are more physically inactive than the general population. The primary aim of this study was to investigate factors associated with PA engagement among RA patients. The secondary aim was to identify their preference for PA support.

There were 96 participants, 76 of whom were female, with a mean age of 56.9 years (range = 34-72 years) and a median RA disease duration of 5 years (interquartile range = 2-12). All patients completed questionnaires assessing demographic status, health status (including cardiovascular disease [CVD] risk and RA disease profile), PA levels and preferences, alongside the perceived benefits of-and barriers to-PA. Hierarchical regressions were carried out to assess the relationship between reported PA levels and both engagement determinants and disease features.

Forty-five per cent (n = 44) had low levels (<600 metabolic equivalent-min/week) of PA. Low level of PA was significantly associated with: CVD risk profile (η_p²  = 0.118, p < 0.002); functional disability (η_p²  = 0.206, p < 0.032); pain (η_p²  = 0.154, p < 0.028); general personal (η_p²  = 0.190, p < 0.001) and arthritis-specific personal (η_p²  = 0.170, p < 0.001) barriers to PA; age (η_p²  = 0.076, p < 0.026); and sedentary behaviour (η_p²  = 0.275, p < 0.001). Participants displayed a preference for unsupervised (n = 37, 38.5%), low-intensity (n = 45, 46.9%), indoor home (n = 50, 52.1%) exercises, with no preferences for the diversity of the exercise prescribed (n = 39, 40.6%) or for who provided the exercise counselling (n = 34, 35.4%).

These results suggest that CVD profile, disability, pain, and general and arthritis-specific personal barriers are associated with PA levels among RA patients. Intervention development should address these factors to facilitate an increase in PA uptake.