MD, consultant, PhD-Fellow.
Philip Rask Lage-Hansen
Department of Rheumatology, Southern West Hospital Esbjerg & Research Unit of Rheumatology, Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense University Hospital & The Parker Institute, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital, Copenhage
| Project management | ||
| Project status | Open | |
| Data collection dates | ||
| Start | 01.09.2023 | |
| End | 01.09.2026 | |
Predictive Utility of a Short-Term Improvement in Objectively Measured Physical Activity in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients Initiating Biologics: A Prospective Cohort Study
Short summary
Former studies have proven Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients to be less physically active than healthy controls, and physical activity (PA) seems to be inversely correlated to disease activity. However, most of these studies do not allow inferences about directions of the observed relationships given the study designs applied. We want to establish the causality between PA and disease activity and explore the prognostic value of immediate change in PA on treatment response in RA patients.
Rationale
Studies have proven Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients to be less physically active than healthy controls, and only a minority of RA patients seem to fulfill the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations regarding the level of daily physical activity (PA). Physical inactivity is the fourth leading risk factor for death globally, responsible for approximately 6% of deaths. PA has been widely studied in RA, and most studies found PA to be inversely correlated to disease activity or score on the Stanford Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index (HAQ-DI). However, most of these studies do not allow inferences about the directions of the observed relationships given the study design applied. The aims of this study are the following: 1. To establish causality between physical activity and disease activity. 2. To investigate the predictive value of immediate change in PA on treatment response among RA patients initiating first biological treatment. 3. To investigate whether the presence of concomitant Fibromyalgia (according to the 2016 criteria for FM), higher levels of CRP (above the median), and excessive fatigue (BRAF ≥ 6) affect the possible effect of being a PA responder immediately after initiating biological treatment.
Description of the cohort
RA patients initiating their first biologic treatment. Patients are planned recruited from Esbjerg, Odense, and Slagelse.
Data and biological material
Accelerometry- and questionnaire data.