Increased Prolonged Sitting in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Within-Subjects, Accelerometer-Based Study

Ana Jessica Pinto, Diego Rezende, Sofia Mendes Sieczkowska, Kamila Meireles, Karina Bonfiglioli, Ana Cristina de Medeiros Ribeiro, Eloisa Bonfá, Neville Owen, David W. Dunstan, Hamilton Roschel and Bruno Gualano ()
Additional contact information
Ana Jessica Pinto: Applied Physiology and Nutrition Research Group, Laboratory of Assessment and Conditioning in Rheumatology, Hospital das Clínicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Av. Dr. Arnaldo, 455, Sao Paulo 01246-903, Brazil
Diego Rezende: Applied Physiology and Nutrition Research Group, Laboratory of Assessment and Conditioning in Rheumatology, Hospital das Clínicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Av. Dr. Arnaldo, 455, Sao Paulo 01246-903, Brazil
Sofia Mendes Sieczkowska: Applied Physiology and Nutrition Research Group, Laboratory of Assessment and Conditioning in Rheumatology, Hospital das Clínicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Av. Dr. Arnaldo, 455, Sao Paulo 01246-903, Brazil
Kamila Meireles: Applied Physiology and Nutrition Research Group, Laboratory of Assessment and Conditioning in Rheumatology, Hospital das Clínicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Av. Dr. Arnaldo, 455, Sao Paulo 01246-903, Brazil
Karina Bonfiglioli: Rheumatology Division, Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Av. Dr. Arnaldo, 455, Sao Paulo 01246-903, Brazil
Ana Cristina de Medeiros Ribeiro: Rheumatology Division, Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Av. Dr. Arnaldo, 455, Sao Paulo 01246-903, Brazil
Eloisa Bonfá: Rheumatology Division, Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Av. Dr. Arnaldo, 455, Sao Paulo 01246-903, Brazil
Neville Owen: Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, 99 Commercial Road, Melbourne, Victoria 3004, Australia
David W. Dunstan: Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, 99 Commercial Road, Melbourne, Victoria 3004, Australia
Hamilton Roschel: Applied Physiology and Nutrition Research Group, Laboratory of Assessment and Conditioning in Rheumatology, Hospital das Clínicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Av. Dr. Arnaldo, 455, Sao Paulo 01246-903, Brazil
Bruno Gualano: Applied Physiology and Nutrition Research Group, Laboratory of Assessment and Conditioning in Rheumatology, Hospital das Clínicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Av. Dr. Arnaldo, 455, Sao Paulo 01246-903, Brazil

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 5, 1-10

Abstract: Background: Social distancing measures designed to contain the COVID-19 pandemic can restrict physical activity, a particular concern for high-risk patient groups. We assessed rheumatoid arthritis patients’ physical activity and sedentary behavior level, pain, fatigue, and health-related quality of life prior to and during the social distancing measures implemented in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Methods: Post-menopausal females diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis were assessed before (from March 2018 to March 2020) and during (from 24 May to 7 July 2020) social distancing measures to contain COVID-19 pandemic, using a within-subjects, repeated-measure design. Physical activity and sedentary behavior were assessed using accelerometry (ActivPAL micro). Pain, fatigue, and health-related quality of life were assessed by questionnaires. Results: Mean age was 60.9 years and BMI was 29.5 Kg/m 2 . Disease activity ranged from remission to moderate activity. During social distancing, there were reductions in light-intensity activity (13.0% [−0.2 h/day, 95% CI: −0.4 to −0.04; p = 0.016]) and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (38.8% [−4.5 min/day, 95% CI: −8.1 to −0.9; p = 0.015]), but not in standing time and sedentary time. However, time spent in prolonged bouts of sitting ≥30 min increased by 34% (1.0 h/day, 95% CI: 0.3 to 1.7; p = 0.006) and ≥60 min increased by 85% (1.0 h/day, 95% CI: 0.5 to 1.6). There were no changes in pain, fatigue, and health-related quality of life (all p > 0.050). Conclusions: Imposed social distancing measures to contain the COVID-19 outbreak were associated with decreased physical activity and increased prolonged sedentary behavior, but did not change clinical symptoms sitting among patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Keywords: sedentary behavior; physical activity level; inflammatory arthritis; pain; fatigue; health-related quality of life (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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