Background:Sarcopenia, characterized by low muscle strength and low muscle quantity or quality and associated with increased risks of falling and mortality. The prevalence of sarcopenia is 37% among patients with RA [1]. However, in clinical practice settings, sarcopenia among RA patients remains underdiagnosed. The SARC-F questionnaire [2] was recommended by the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP) before performing muscle strength tests and assessment muscle mass.Objectives:To evaluate the diagnostic value of the SARC-F questionnaire for the screening of sarcopenia (SP) in women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).Methods:83 women (average age 59±8 years) with RA without aseptic bone necrosis, joint replacement and severe comorbidities were recruited. All patients were interviewed with the SARC-F questionnaire. The summation score ≥ 4 corresponded to cut-off for suspected sarcopenia. Sarcopenia was evaluated using the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP2), which included dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), handgrip strength or chair stand test, and gait speed. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative prognostic values of the SARC-F questionnaire were estimated.Results:Confirmed SP was diagnosed in 20 (24%) RA patients, who had low muscle strength and mass. When conventional cut-off point (≥4) for SARC-F questionnaire was applied, only 30% of the patients with SP met this condition (sensitivity 30%, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 13% to 54%), and 41% of the patients without SP did not meet this condition (specificity 41%, 95% CI 29% to 54%). Positive and negative prognostic values were 14% (95% CI 6% to 29%) and 65% (95% CI 48% to 79%), respectively.Conclusion:The SARC-F questionnaire alone is not adequate for screening of SP in RA patient. It is necessary to develop other simple screening methods that can easily be carried out in real clinical practice to identify individuals with possible SP for further diagnostic tests.References:[1]Torii M, Hashimoto M, Hanai A, et al. Prevalence and factors associated with sarcopenia in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Modern Rheumatology, 2018;29(4):589-595. doi:10.1080/14397595.2018.1510565.[2]Cruz-Jentoft AJ, Bahat G, Bauer J, et al. Writing Group for the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People 2 (EWGSOP2), and the Extended Group for EWGSOP2. Sarcopenia: revised European consensus on definition and diagnosis. Age Ageing. 2019;48(1):16-31. doi:10.1093/ageing/afy169.Disclosure of Interests:None declared

Aim – to identify the frequency of isolated and combined pathological phenotypes of body composition in women with rheumatic diseases and to determine the factors associated with the sarcopenic phenotype.Materials and methods. 255 women (median age 60 [54; 64] years) were included in the study: 114 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), 46 – with systemic sclerosis (SSc), 56 – with osteoarthritis (OA), and 39 persons without rheumatic diseases (control). Questionnaires, anthropometric measurements, double-energy X-ray absorptiometry of the whole body, lumbar spine and proximal femur were performed. The assessment of the factors associated with the sarcopenic phenotype was carried out using a univariate regression analysis.Results. The frequency of isolated and combined pathological phenotypes in women with SSc was 34.8% and 52.2%, with RA – 51.8% and 38.6%, with OA – 71.4% and 10.7%, respectively. The sarcopenic phenotype was more often determined in patients with SSc (43.5%) and RA (29.8%) compared with women with OA (1.8%) (p<0.001). The factors associated with the sarcopenic phenotype were BMI><25 kg/m2 (OR=7.89 [95% CI: 3.90–15.96]; p><0.001), glucocorticoids (GC) intake (OR=2.50 [95% CI: 1.32–4.73]; p=0.005) and cumulative GC dose (OR=1.04 [95% CI: 1.01–1.07]; p=0.008), presence of osteoporosis (OP) (OR=4.31 [95% CI: 2.33–7.97]; p><0.001), leukocytosis more than 9.0×109 /l (OR=4.08 [95% CI: 1.38–12.10]; p=0.011), total protein less than 65 g/l (OR=1.11 [95% CI: 1.02–1.19]; p=0.019) and calcium intake less than 500 mg/day (OR=2.78 [95% CI: 1.39–5.53]; p=0.004). Conclusion. The study demonstrated a significant frequency of pathological phenotypes of body composition in women with rheumatic diseases, while combined phenotypes were more common in patients with SSc and RA compared with patients with OA. The probability of sarcopenic phenotype increased with BMI><25 kg/m2 , GC using, the presence of OP and insufficiency of calcium intake. Key words: rheumatic diseases, body composition phenotypes, sarcopenia, osteoporosis, osteosarcopenia, overfat, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic scleroderma, osteoarthritis, risk factors>˂ 0.001). The factors associated with the sarcopenic phenotype were BMI<25 kg/m2 (OR=7.89 [95% CI: 3.90–15.96];>˂ 25 kg/m2 (OR=7.89 [95% CI: 3.90–15.96]; p<0.001), glucocorticoids (GC) intake (OR=2.50 [95% CI: 1.32–4.73]; p=0.005) and cumulative GC dose (OR=1.04 [95% CI: 1.01–1.07]; p=0.008), presence of osteoporosis (OP) (OR=4.31 [95% CI: 2.33–7.97]; p><0.001), leukocytosis more than 9.0×109 /l (OR=4.08 [95% CI: 1.38–12.10]; p=0.011), total protein less than 65 g/l (OR=1.11 [95% CI: 1.02–1.19]; p=0.019) and calcium intake less than 500 mg/day (OR=2.78 [95% CI: 1.39–5.53]; p=0.004). Conclusion. The study demonstrated a significant frequency of pathological phenotypes of body composition in women with rheumatic diseases, while combined phenotypes were more common in patients with SSc and RA compared with patients with OA. The probability of sarcopenic phenotype increased with BMI><25 kg/m2 , GC using, the presence of OP and insufficiency of calcium intake. Key words: rheumatic diseases, body composition phenotypes, sarcopenia, osteoporosis, osteosarcopenia, overfat, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic scleroderma, osteoarthritis, risk factors>˂ 0.001), glucocorticoids (GC) intake (OR=2.50 [95% CI: 1.32–4.73]; p=0.005) and cumulative GC dose (OR=1.04 [95% CI: 1.01–1.07]; p=0.008), presence of osteoporosis (OP) (OR=4.31 [95% CI: 2.33–7.97]; p<0.001), leukocytosis more than 9.0×109 /l (OR=4.08 [95% CI: 1.38–12.10]; p=0.011), total protein less than 65 g/l (OR=1.11 [95% CI: 1.02–1.19]; p=0.019) and calcium intake less than 500 mg/day (OR=2.78 [95% CI: 1.39–5.53]; p=0.004).>˂ 0.001), leukocytosis more than 9.0×109 /l (OR=4.08 [95% CI: 1.38–12.10]; p=0.011), total protein less than 65 g/l (OR=1.11 [95% CI: 1.02–1.19]; p=0.019) and calcium intake less than 500 mg/day (OR=2.78 [95% CI: 1.39–5.53]; p=0.004).Conclusion. The study demonstrated a significant frequency of pathological phenotypes of body composition in women with rheumatic diseases, while combined phenotypes were more common in patients with SSc and RA compared with patients with OA. The probability of sarcopenic phenotype increased with BMI<25 kg/m2 , GC using, the presence of OP and insufficiency of calcium intake. Key words: rheumatic diseases, body composition phenotypes, sarcopenia, osteoporosis, osteosarcopenia, overfat, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic scleroderma, osteoarthritis, risk factors>˂ 25 kg/m2, GC using, the presence of OP and insufficiency of calcium intake.

Aim of the research – to determine the frequency of osteoporosis (OP) and to identify risk factors for a decrease in bone mineral density (BMD) in postmenopausal women with systemic sclerosis (SSс).Subjects and methods. The study included 113 postmenopausal women (median age – 60.0 [54.0; 63.0] years) with a reliable diagnosis of SSc according to the ACR/EULAR criteria (2013). The exclusion criterion was the presence of overlap syndromes. All women were interviewed according to a unified questionnaire, a laboratory and instrumental examination was conducted, including Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry.Results. OP and osteopenia in at least one measurement area were diagnosed in 45.1% and 48.7% of women, respectively. Multivariate linear regression analysis revealed a negative effect of the total experience of taking glucocorticoids (GCs) on the value of BMD in the lumbar spine (b=–0.005; R2=0.136; p=0.017). Body mass index (BMI) (b=0.007; R2=0.208; p<0.001), glomerular filtration rate (GFR) (b=0.313; R2=0.213; p<0.001) is positive, and the cumulative dose of GCs (b=–0.269; R2=0.134; p<0.001), the duration of taking proton pump inhibitors (PPI) (b=–0.277; R2=0.291; p<0.001) and the duration of postmenopause (b=–0,223; R2=0.134; p<0.001) negatively affected the BMD of the femoral neck. BMD in the total hip (TH) was generally positively associated with BMI (b=0.493; R2=0.244; p<0.001), GFR (b=0.313; R2=0.150; p<0.001), 25-hydroxy calciferol level (b=0.273; R2=0.284; p=0.001), and negatively – with the cumulative dose of GCs (b=–0.219; R2=0.289; p<0.001).Conclusion. 93.8% of postmenopausal women with SSс had reduced BMD. Of the traditional risk factors, only BMI, the duration of postmenopause and the level of vitamin D had an impact on the state of BMD, and among the specific ones – the cumulative dose and duration of taking GCs, PPI and GFR.

Objective: to assess bone mineral density (BMD) and the incidence of osteoporosis (OP) and sarcopenia (SP) in women suffering from rheumatoid arthritis (RA).Patients and methods. Eighty-one women (mean age, 59.0±8.1 years) with a reliable diagnosis of RA were examined. The women underwent the following studies: a survey using a special questionnaire; tests to measure the functional status of muscles, including those to determine their strength; as well as dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry of the axial skeleton and whole body.Results and discussion. According to the EWGSOP2 criteria, 20 (24.7%) female patients were diagnosed with SP, 24 (29.6%) had OP, and 39 (48.2%) had osteopenia. OP in female patients with and without SP occurred in 35.0 and 27.9% of cases, respectively (p>0.05). BMD in the femoral neck and in the proximal femur as a whole was significantly lower in the presence of SP than in its absence (p=0.0006 and p=0.0061, respectively). The frequency of falls was significantly higher in the female patients with SP than in those without SP (p=0.028). The major osteoporotic and hip fracture probabilities calculated according to the FRAX ® algorithm was higher in the patients with SP than in those without SP (p=0.041 and p=0.033, respectively). There were positive correlations of BMD with body mass index, appendicular muscle mass, appendicular muscle index, hand strength, shoulder circumference, and the serum levels of calcium, creatinine and uric acid, as well as negative correlations with age, postmenopausal length, and RA duration.Conclusion. OP and SP are common RA complications that increase the risk of falls and fractures.

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