Gossec, L., Cantagrel, A., Soubrier, M., Joubert, J.M., Czarlewski, W., Combe, B., Berthelot, J.M., Wendling, D., Dernis, E., Grange, L., Beauvais, C., Perdriger, A., Nataf, H., Dougados, M., Servy; H. (June 2017)
Background RA and axSpA natural history comprises periods of low disease activity and flares. There is much interest in the concept of flares. Studies have indicated flares may alter patient quality of life, however, there are few data linking flares to quantifiable outcomes.
Objectives The objective was to assess longitudinally the association between patient-reported flares and physical activity assessed objectively using an activity tracker.
Methods This prospective multi-center observational study (ActConnect) included patients with definite RA (ACR/EULAR criteria) or axSpA (ASAS criteria) owning a smartphone. Physical activity was assessed continuously over 3 months by the number of steps using an activity tracker, and flares were self-assessed weekly using a specific flare question (“has your disease flared up during the last 7 days?”)[1] with a categorical response according to: no flare, 1 to 3 days flare, or >3 days flare. The relationship between flares and physical activity for each week (time point) was assessed by linear mixed models adjusted on rheumatic disease, sex, age, obesity, biologics and employment status.
Results 170/178 patients (91 RA and 79 axSpA patients; 1553 time points) were analyzed: mean age 45.5±12.4 years, mean disease duration 10.3±8.7 years; 60 (35.3%) were males and 90 (52.9%) received biologics. Disease was well-controlled (mean DAS28: 2.3±1.2; mean BASDAI: 3.3±2.1). Physical activity was moderate (mean steps/day, 7067±2770). Flares were frequent (25.5% of the questionnaires); most (76.8%) were of short duration. Flares, in particular >3 days flares, were independently associated with less weekly physical activity (p=0.02–0.03), leading to a relative decrease of physical activity of 12–21% and an absolute decrease ranging from 836 to 1462 steps/day.
(publication) Gossec, L., Cantagrel, A., Soubrier, M., Joubert, J.M., Czarlewski, W., Combe, B., Berthelot, J.M., Wendling, D., Dernis, E., Grange, L., Beauvais, C., Perdriger, A., Nataf, H., Dougados, M., Servy; H. (June 2017). THU0588 Are rheumatoid arthritis patients willing to use an e-health interactive self-assessment website? analyses of 159 patients from a randomised controlled trial over 12 months. Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, 76(2), 428.