AB0570 EFFECTS OF REGULAR YOGA AND MEDITATION PRACTICE ON PAIN AND HEALTH-RELATED QUALITY OF LIFE IN PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS
Authors: L. Yankova Komsalova, R. A. Ghiglino Novoa, J. A. Garcia
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2024)

<h3>Background:</h3> Yoga might improve physical function and reduce disease symptoms in patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). <h3>Objectives:</h3> The aim of this study was to demonstrate that a regular yoga and meditation practise (YM) is as effective as the practise of other routine aerobic and resistance training exercises (RE), such as swimming, running, cycling, walking, gym, stretching and strengthening activities, generally recommended to patients with RA to improve their physical function and health-related quality of life (HRQOL). This is especially important for patients who have reached a stage of low disease activity (LDA) or remission (DR) but still feel compromised in their physical and mental health. <h3>Methods:</h3> A prospective 12-week study with 46 adult participants (&gt;18; &lt;65) assigned to one of the following groups: 1) RA patients in LDA or DR, who performed YM 120 minutes once a week, 12 weeks (RAYM); 2) RA patients in LDA or DR, who performed RE a total of 120 minutes per week, 12 weeks (RARE) and 3) Healthy controls (HC) who performed YM 120 minutes once a week, 12 weeks (HCYM). The RA patients were randomly assigned to YM or RE according to their order of entry, 15 to RAYM and 15 to RARE. All 16 HC were Hospital employees. We assessed physical and psychological function, pain, and flexibility at baseline and at week 12 and compared them within and between the groups. Health assessment questionnaires such as SF 36 (36-item Short-Form Health Survey), HAQ (Health Assessment Questionnaire), and VAS (Visual analogue scale) pain and fatigue were applied. Flexibility was measured by using the Shoulder Reach Flexibility Test (SRFT) and the Fingertips to floor distance- special test (FTFD). Physical function was assessed by the 30 seconds chair stand test (30sCST). All variables were represented by means and standard deviation (SD). Statistical significance was set at p&lt;0.05. <h3>Results:</h3> At baseline 46 participants were recruited, 30 RA patients and 16 HC. One of the 16 HCYM and 2 of the 15 RAYM participants dropped out of the study before it started, claiming family issues or time incompatibility. Three of the HCYM and 1 of the RAYM left the study after it started. Class attendance was as follows: 58.9 % in HCYM, 60.5% in RAYM and 94.6% in the RARE. The mean age was 45.7 for HCYM, 49.3 for RAYM and 53.1 for the RARE. 33 (71.73%) were female and 13 (28.26%) males. All RA patients were in LDA or DR at the baseline and there were no statistic differences on DAS 28 (ESR) between both RA groups (p=0.181). At week 12 a statistically significant improvement was found in the RAYM group for SF 36 Emotional well-being (p=0.0058); SF 36 Pain (p=0.0285); SF 36 Health change (p=0.0179) and SF 36 Average rate (p=0.0161). There was a trend towards significance for SF 36 Social functioning (p=0.0583). Statistically significant improvement in flexibility (FTFD) and physical function (30sCST) was found in both YM groups; RAYM (p=0.022); (p=0.0284), and HCYM (p=0.035); (p=0.046), respectively. When compared between groups (RAYM/ RARE) the RAYM displayed significantly greater results for SF 36 Emotional well-being (p=0.037); SF36 Pain (p=0.0339), SF 36 Health change (p=0.005) and flexibility (FTFD) (p=0.032). After grouping all participants into 1) participants without improvement (less than 10 % change in the SF 36 Average rate at week 12), and 2) participants with improvement (&gt;11% change) it was evident that significantly more RAYM participants improved 8 (66.67%), when compared to only 4(26.67%) RARE or 2(18.18%) HCYM participants (p= 0.04245). No major adverse effects (AE) were reported during the study duration. Most AE were mild, reported during or immediately after the yoga class and most of them quickly resolved, not requiring withdrawal from the practise. <h3>Conclusion:</h3> YM might be useful for improving HRQOL in RA patients, especially for pain and emotional well-being. Regaining flexibility and physical function would be of great help for those patients who have achieved LDA or DR but still perceive that their physical and mental health is compromised. Future studies are needed to determinate the type, duration, and frequency of practise to establish YM as an additional routine practise for patients with RA. <h3>REFERENCES:</h3> <b>NIL.</b> <h3>Acknowledgements:</h3> To all my coleages and all participants in the study. <h3>Disclosure of Interests:</h3> <b>None declared.</b>