Losing muscle mass tied to physical dysfunction in early RA

Key clinical point: Myopenia was prevalent and associated with physical dysfunction in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Major finding: The prevalence of myopenia was higher in patients with early RA vs matched control individuals (41.3% vs 15.8%; P < .0167) but similar among patients with early and established RA. Myopenia was independently associated with physical dysfunction in patients with early RA (adjusted odds ratio 2.983; 95% CI 1.192-7.465).

Study details: This cross-sectional study included 1008 patients with RA (early RA n = 190; established RA n = 818) and 2017 control individuals who were age- and sex-matched for comparison.

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Disclosures: This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China and other sources. Two authors declared being employees of Shanghai Healthcare Co. Ltd.

Source: Pan J et al. Muscle mass loss is associated with physical dysfunction in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis. Front Nutr. 2022;9:1007184 (Nov 23). Doi: 10.3389/fnut.2022.1007184