POS1514-HPR ASSOCIATION BETWEEN RESPIRATORY MUSCLE ENDURANCE WITH RESPIRATORY MUSCLE STRENGTH, EXERCISE CAPACITY, DYSPNEA, AND FATIGUE IN PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS
Authors: S. Bayram, İ. Vasi, A. Erden, D. Oskay
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2024)

<h3>Background:</h3> In patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), decreased respiratory muscle strength, exercise capacity, and increased dyspnea are indicative of cardiopulmonary deconditioning. Therefore, evaluating respiratory muscle performance is crucial in patients with RA. The assessment of respiratory muscle endurance used at submaximal levels during daily life activities accurately reflects respiratory muscle performance and is significant in terms of functionality [1-3]. <h3>Objectives:</h3> The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between respiratory muscle endurance, exercise capacity, respiratory muscle strength, dyspnea, and fatigue in patients with RA. <h3>Methods:</h3> Forty-six patients with RA (55.22±8.89 years) were enrolled. Demographic and clinical characteristics were recorded. Respiratory muscle endurance was assessed using the incremental threshold loading test (ITL), exercise capacity with the 6-minute walk test (6MWT), respiratory muscle strength (maximal inspiratory and expiratory pressure) with a mouth pressure measurement device, dyspnea with the Modified Medical Research Council dyspnea scale, and fatigue with the Fatigue Severity Scale. The ITL test was started with a pressure of 30% MIP and increased by 10% every 2 minutes until 100% was reached. The final step pressure (in cmH<sub>2</sub>O) that the patients could sustain for at least 1 minute was recorded as the RME value. <h3>Results:</h3> The respiratory muscle endurance value of the patients was 48.86±30.94 cmH<sub>2</sub>O. There was a statistically significant correlation between respiratory muscle endurance and maximal inspiratory (r=0.740, p&lt;0.001) and expiratory pressure (r=0.597, p&lt;0.001). However, there was no statistically significant correlation between respiratory muscle endurance and 6MWT distance, dyspnea, and fatigue (p&gt;0.05). <h3>Conclusion:</h3> In patients with RA, as inspiratory and expiratory muscle strength decreases, respiratory muscle endurance decreases as well. Evaluating respiratory muscle endurance in patients with RA might be beneficial in the development of individualized respiratory exercise treatments. <h3>REFERENCES:</h3> [1] Basso-Vanelli, R.P., Di Lorenzo, V.A., Ramalho, M., Labadessa, I.G., Regueiro, E.M., Jamami, M., Costa, D. (2018). Reproducibility of inspiratory muscle endurance testing using PowerBreathe for COPD patients. Physiotherapy Research International, 2018.23(1): p. e1687. [2] Çimen, Ö., Deviren, S., Yorgancioğlu, Z. (2001). Pulmonary function tests, aerobic capacity, respiratory muscle strength and endurance of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Clinical Rheumatology, 20(3):168-173. [3] Woszezenki, C.T., Heinzmann-Filho, J.P., Vendrusculo, F.M., Piva, T.C., Levices, I., Donadio, M.V.F. (2017). Reference values for inspiratory muscle endurance in healthy children and adolescents. PLoS One, 12(1):e0170696. <h3>Acknowledgements:</h3> <b>NIL.</b> <h3>Disclosure of Interests:</h3> <b>None declared.</b>