This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.
Exercise may be protective against development of RA in women
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts
Physical activity may be protective against the development of rheumatoid arthritis in women, according to researchers from the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm.
The researchers studied 30,112 women enrolled in the Swedish Mammography Cohort who responded to a questionnaire in 1997 regarding physical activity. The questions were designed to assess daily energy expenditure during occupational and home activities and during leisure time. Additionally, a metabolic equivalent score was calculated based on duration, intensity and inactivity.
Daniela Di Giuseppe
Of the 30,112 women, 201 developed rheumatoid arthritis (RA) during the average follow-up time of 7.5 years, totaling 226,477 person-years.
Women in the cohort who developed RA were more likely to expend less energy per week, according to the researchers. A 35% decreased risk for developing RA was seen in the women who spent more hours performing home or household work, and a 20% decrease was seen for women who exercised for 2 hours or more per week. Contrastingly, a 27% increased risk for developing RA was seen in the women who were inactive most often during leisure time.
When follow-up time occurred in 2004, the risk of developing RA was 42% lower for the women who expended the most energy per week, according to the researchers.
Women who expended the least amount of energy per week were older, less education, had higher BMI, were more likely to be active smokers but less likely to drink alcohol. Only 7% of women in the cohort walked more than 1.5 hours per day, the researchers reported. – by Shirley Pulawski
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts