AB0316 SARCOPENIA IN PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS: PREVALENCE AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS

Objectives To evaluate the prevalence of sarcopenia (SP) and associated factors in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods 159 women (mean age 58.7±8.8) with confirmed RA according to ACR/EULAR criteria (2010) were enrolled. Hand grip strength was measured using mechanical dynamometry. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) was performed to assess the body composition and bone mineral density (BMD) of the lumbar spine, femoral neck and total hip. SP was defined as muscle strength < 16 kg and appendicular lean mass index (ALMI) <5.5 kg/m 2 or appendicular lean mass (ALM) <15 kg. RA activity was assessed by C-reactive protein (CRP) and disease activity score using 28 joint counts and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (DAS28-ESR). The relation between low ALM with disease parameters was analyzed using Spearman’s r. Factors associated with SP were evaluated using regression analysis. Results SP was diagnosed in 33 (20.8%) women with RA. Patients with SP did not differ in age from those without it (59,0±8,9 and 58,7±8,8 years, respectively, p>0,05). 75.8% patients with SP and only 27.8% women without SP had normal BMI (p<0.001). Osteoporosis was diagnosed significantly more often in patients with SP than in women without SP (54.5% and 23.0%, respectively, p<0.001). In women with RA, ALM and ALMI correlated with body mass index (BMI), bone mineral component, BMD and total fat mass. ALM and ALMI did not correlate with age, disease duration, the use of glucocorticoids, DAS28, CRP, total protein, and creatinine levels. In univariate regression analysis, SP was associated with BMI, bone mineral component, BMD of lumbar spine and proximal femur, total fat mass. In multivariate regression analysis, SP was positively associated with the presence of osteoporosis [OR 2.98, 95%CI (1.22-7.30), p = 0.017] and BMI < 25 kg/m 2 [OR 6.75, 95%CI (2.45-18.56), p <0.001]. No other significant associations were found. Conclusion Among patients with RA, 1/5 of them had SP, which was positively associated with BMI and the presence of osteoporosis, but not with the age, activity and duration of the disease. Disclosure of Interests None declared