Comparison of sarcopenia parameter in RA and controls
| Variable | RA n=289 | Controls n=280 | P value |
| ALM (kg), mean±SD | 19.1±4.0 | 21.1±4.0 | <0.0001 |
| ALM/ht² (kg/m²), mean±SD | 6.8±1.0 | 7.3±1.2 | <0.0001 |
| ALM/BMI (kg/BMI), mean±SD | 0.72±0.14 | 0.80±0.18 | <0.0001 |
| Grip strength (kg), mean±SD | 23.9±9.0 | 32.8±9.5 | <0.0001 |
| Chair rise time (s), mean±SD | 9.6±3.4 | 8.5±6.0 | <0.0001 |
| Gait speed (m/s), mean±SD | 1.23±0.21 | – | |
| Sarcopenia EWGSOP2 | |||
| Low grip strength, n (%) | 59 (20.4) | 6 (2.1) | <0.0001 |
| Prolonged chair rise time, n (%) | 21 (7.3) | 10 (3.6) | 0.05 |
| Slow gait speed, n (%) | 13 (4.5) | 6 (2.1) | 0.12 |
| Low muscle mass ALMI/ht², n (%) | 36 (12.5) | 20 (7.1) | 0.03 |
| Probable sarcopenia*, n (%) | 71 (24.6) | 15 (5.4) | <0.0001 |
| Confirmed sarcopenia, n (%) | 13 (4.5) | 1 (0.4) | 0.001 |
| Severe sarcopenia, n (%) | 0 | 0 | – |
| Sarcopenia FNIH | |||
| Weakness, n (%) | 59 (20.4) | 6 (2.1) | <0.0001 |
| Low muscle mass ALM/BMI, n (%) | 18 (6) | 22 (7.9) | 0.45 |
| Weakness and low ALM/BMI, n (%) | 8 (2.8) | 2 (0.7) | 0.11 |
p<0.05 significant. Data on gait speed in controls are only available as a dichotomous variable.
bold values: significant
*Low grip strength and/ or prolonged chair rise time.
ALM, appendicular lean mass; BMI, body mass index; EWGSOP2, European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People; FNIH, Foundation for the National Institutes of Health; RA, rheumatoid arthritis.