Weakness may be reversible in some rheumatoid arthritis patients

Frail rheumatoid arthritis patients may find their weakness reversible after treatment, a new study suggests

The University of Glasgow-led study, published in RMD Open, looked at frailty – a vulnerability to adverse health outcomes – in people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA)

Frailty is common among people with rheumatoid arthritis, including many younger people under the age of 65, the study found

Although studies have found that people with more severe or active rheumatoid arthritis are more likely to be considered frail, and frail people are more likely to be hospitalized or die, early control of rheumatoid arthritis disease activity can help Improve weakness

Dr Peter Hanlon, a clinical researcher at the University's Institute of Health and Wellbeing, said: "It is incredibly encouraging to see from our study that frailty can be alleviated in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, especially in younger patients

"Our findings suggest that some frail and active rheumatoid arthritis patients have the potential to improve their frail status with rheumatoid arthritis treatments

The study looked at RA patients identified in the Scottish Early Rheumatoid Arthritis (SERA) cohort (newly diagnosed, mean age 58.

Based on the frailty index, frailty was common in the SERA cohort (12% moderate, 0.

Neha Issar-Brown, director of research at Fighting Arthritis, said: "Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can affect people of any age, and for some it can take months, sometimes years, to get an accurate diagnosis

"This study provides further clear evidence of the importance and very tangible benefits of quickly finding the most effective treatments that will reduce the effects of rheumatoid arthritis and prevent it from getting worse

"It also underscores a key tenet of the Versus Arthritis research priorities - applying a holistic approach to people with arthritis, including pain, mental health and fatigue management, so they can get the right treatment at the right time