Association of kinesiophobia, aerobic exercise, functional impairment and disease activity of patients with rheumatoid arthritis and spondyloarthritis

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and spondyloarthritis (SA) are the most common chronic inflammatory rheumatism, leading to functional disability, but also cardiovascular mortality. Aerobic exercise (AE) is one of the most effective non-pharmacological resources for cardiovascular rehabilitation while the patients RA and SA have difficulty to join the practice of physical exercise. It can be explained by the presence of kinesiophobia, fear that the movement exacerbates the pain and disease. Objectives: To compare the level of AE of patients with RA and SA with healthy subjects and to verify the association between kinesiophobia, the level of activity of the disease and the functional disability Methods: Fifty RA patients and fifty SA patients followed by the rheumatology department of the University Hospital of Besançon and fifty healthy age-matched subjects were included. The main inclusion criteria: between 18 and 80 years old and without orthopaedic surgery <1 year. The disease activity (DAS-28 and ASDAS), the functional disability (HAQ and BASFI), the level of AE (SQUASH questionnaire) and kinesiophobia (TSK questionnaire) were evaluated. The control group answered to the SQUASH questionnaire. The t-test was used to compare inflammatory rheumatism groups with the control group (healthy subjects). The Pearson Correlation Test for each group (RA and SA) was used to verify the associations between variables. Results: The level of AE is significantly higher in healthy subjects (p=0.022). In the RA group, kinesiophobia is associated with disease activity, functional disability and level of AE. In the SA group, kinesiophobia is associated only with the functional disability. Patients have a low level of AE compared to healthy subjects. However, only the RA group has an association between kinesiophobia and AE. In the SA group, functional disability appears to be a factor limiting the practice of AE. Abstract THU0248 – Table 1 Results of pearson correlation test between variables Conclusions: RA and SA patients need to be encouraged and better informed about the benefits of physical exercise. Disclosure of Interest: None declared DOI: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2018-eular.6741 Citation: Ann Rheum Dis, volume 77, supplement Suppl, year 2018, page A344Session: Spondyloarthritis – clinical aspects (other than treatment)