Is Body Composition Associated with SARC-F Questionnaire and Functional Test in Women with Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis is a common rheumatic disease, characterized by erosive joint damage and destruction of internal organs. Significant functional activity limitation, chronic inflammation, nutritional disorders, a number of used medicaments form sarcopenia, which increases the risk of falls and cardiovascular risks. Rheumatoid arthritis patients often have pain and joint deformations, that's why functional tests using to reveal sarcopenia may not be able to be accurately estimated in these patients. In connection with this, instrumental methods are useful. The aim of this study was to evaluate body composition parameters and its association with SARC-F questionnaire results and the clinical features in women with rheumatoid arthritis. Methods: Women with rheumatoid arthritis confirmed according to the 2010 ACR/EULAR criteria were included. Body composition was carried out by dual-energy absorptiometry. Appendicular lean and fat mass, appendicular muscle index (AMI) were calculated. Muscle and fat mass of the upper and lower extremities, the trunk and the whole body were assessed. SARC-F questionnaire and 5 times getting up from a chair test were carried out for screening of sarcopenia presence. Results: Sarcopenia, assessed according to AMI, was detected in 7 (20.6 %) patients. RA women with sarcopenia were younger (p=0,006) and had a predominantly normal BMI (p = 0.035). SARC-F questionare results and time to rise from a chair five times weren't associated with presence of sarcopenia, defined by AMI. Conclusions: Sarcopenia defined by low AMI was more commonly revealed in young RA women with normal body weight and wasn't associated with SARC-F questionnare results and functional test.