AB1584-HPR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY ASSESSMENT IN PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATIC DISEASES: A CASE-CONTROL STUDY
Authors: A. Fazaa, Y. EL Mabrouk, S. Miladi, H. Boussaa, Y. Makhlouf, K. Ben Abdelghani, A. Laatar
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2024)

<h3>Background:</h3> Physical activity (PA) is a major determinant of health status in the general population and in patients with rheumatic disease. Pain and disability resulting are usually accompanied by a reduced level of PA. <h3>Objectives:</h3> The aim of our study was to assess PA in IA patients in comparison with a control group and to determine factors influencing PA level. <h3>Methods:</h3> This was a cross-sectional study of measured level of PA in patients with IA, compared to age and gender-matched healthy controls. In adults, PA was assessed using a questionnaire about patient's self-perception as well as the GPAQ (the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire). To analyze data in the GPAQ, metabolic equivalents (METs), were used to express the intensity of the PA. Respondents were considered not meeting <i>World Health Organization</i> (WHO) recommendations if the Total PA MET-minutes per week were less than 600. In children, PA was estimated by children's physical activity questionnaire for children and for adolescents (cPAQ/aPAQ). The PAQ scores 2 as "low activity," &gt;2 and ≤ 3 as "moderate activity," and &gt;3 as "high to vigorous activity". <h3>Results:</h3> A total of 135 patients with rheumatic disease (40% Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA), 37% Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and 23% Spondyloarthritis (SpA)) and 110 healthy controls were included. The mean total PA was significantly lower in patients (620±700 MET-min/week) than in controls (2500± 3200 MET-min/ week) (p&lt;0.001). The percentage of respondents not meeting WHO recommendations on physical activity for health was 60% in IA patients and 28% in controls (p&lt;0.001). PA level was moderate in 28% of patients and 54% of controls. Five percent of patients had high level of PA compared to 18% of controls. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (p&lt;0.001). The mean total daily duration of PA was 26.35± 26.6 minutes in patients versus 78.8 ± 110 minutes in controls (p&lt;0.001). Comparison of percentages of total daily PA attributable to work, travel, and leisure between patients and controls was not statistically significant. The mean number of minutes spent in sedentary activities was significantly higher in rheumatic disease patients compared with controls (312 ± 143.9 versus 189.9 ± 126.6, p&lt;0.001). A strong association was found between PA practice and disease activity (p=0.006), as well as functional disability (p=0.023). <h3>Conclusion:</h3> In our study, PA in rheumatic disease patients was significantly lower than controls in terms of number of minutes as well as energy expenditure. Disease activity and functional impact were the main factors hindering PA. Strategies including therapeutic patient education as well as information of rheumatologist about different programs is important in order to promote and spread PA <h3>REFERENCES:</h3> <b>NIL.</b> <h3>Acknowledgements:</h3> <b>NIL.</b> <h3>Disclosure of Interests:</h3> <b>None declared.</b>