AB0862-HPR THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ANAEROBIC EXERCISE CAPACITY AND LOWER EXTREMITY FUNCTIONALITY IN PATIENTS WITH FAMILIAL MEDITERRANEAN FEVER
Authors: M. E. Acar, D. Bayraktar, S. Gucenmez, D. C. Saraç, N. Buker, U. Z. Kocak, D. Solmaz, S. Akar
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2021)

Background: Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is an auto-inflammatory disease commonly affects people from Mediterranean basin. It is characterized by acute self-limiting inflammatory attacks of serous membranes. The disease is commonly associated with musculoskeletal symptoms of lower extremities such as arthritis, exercise induced leg pain, as well as protracted febrile myalgia. The term of anaerobic exercise capacity describes the ability of performing quick and explosive tasks such as stair climbing and brisk walking. It is well known that anaerobic exercise capacity is closely related to functional status. Objectives: To assess the relationship between anaerobic exercise capacity and lower extremity functionality in patients with FMF. Methods: Twenty-eight FMF patients (57% female) were included in the study. Median age was 33.5 (IQR 25/75: 23.3/44.3) years, median body mass index was 24.3 (IQR 25/75: 21.0/27.8) kg/m 2 , median time since symptom onset was 20.0 (IQR 25/75: 11.5/24.5) years, median time since diagnosis was 10.0 (IQR 25/75: 3.75/17.5) years, and median colchicine dosage was 1.5 (IQR 25/75: 1.0/1.5) mg/day. Anaerobic exercise capacity was measured with Wingate Anaerobic Test by using a cycle ergometer. Peak power (watt/kg) and average power (watt/kg) were calculated. Stair climbing, standing from a chair, and walking were assessed by using 9-step stair climb test, 10-repetition chair stand test, and 6-minute walking distance, respectively. Spearman’s rank-order correlation test was used to analyse the relationships between anaerobic exercise capacity and lower extremity functional tests. Results: The results of the anaerobic exercise capacity and lower extremity functional test scores of patients with FMF were summarized in table 1. Moderate relationships were found between both peak and average anaerobic exercise capacities and lower extremity functional status tests (Table 1, p&lt;0.05). Six-minute walking distance has the strongest association with both peak (rho: .672, p&lt;0.001) and average (rho: .689, p&lt;0.001) anaerobic exercise capacity. Table 1. Anaerobic exercise capacity scores and lower extremity functionality as well as the relationships between anaerobic capacity and functional tests in patient with familial Mediterranean fever. Characteristics Median (IQR 25/75 ) (n:28 ) The correlation results, rho, p values Peak Power (watt/kg ) Average Power (watt/kg ) 9-step stair climb test (seconds) 5.7 (5.1/6.4) -.590* -.648* p:0.001 p: 0.001 10-repetition chair stand test (seconds) 16.6 (13.7/18.7) -.493* -.476* p:0.008 p:0.010 6-minute walking distance (meters) 594.1 (551.1/643.3) .672* .689* p&lt;0.001 p&lt;0.001 Peak power (watt/kg) 5.8 (4.1/7.9) Average power (watt/kg) 4.6 (3.1/5.9) IQR 25/75: Interquartile range between 25 th and 75 th percentiles; kg: kilograms, *Spearman’s rank-order correlation test, p&lt;0.05. Conclusion: According to our results, anaerobic exercise capacity is related to lower extremity functional status in patients with FMF. Improving anaerobic capacity by using optimal rehabilitation programs including speed and agility exercises may help to improve anaerobic exercise capacity, and consequently lower extremity functionality in those patients. Disclosure of Interests: None declared