Activity Patterns And Diverse Health Related Outcomes Among Adults With Arthritis

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the association of activity levels with physical function and health-related measures of arthritis and the differences in these outcomes across sociodemographic and clinical subgroups. METHODS: Baselines measures were taken from 229 adults with arthritis (60.3% African American, 91.3% female, 64.1 ± 9.6 years) enrolled in a telephone-based walking program. Physical function was evaluated using 30-second chair-stand (30CST) and 6-minute walk tests (6MWT). Moderate-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and sedentary time were measured with waist-worn accelerometers for 7 days. Symptom severity included pain intensity, pain interference, fatigue, and stiffness. Pearson correlation examined associations between activity level, physical function, and symptom severity. Independent t-tests compared differences in these measures among underserved groups (African American (AA); older adults (≥65 years); adults with obesity (BMI ≥30 kg/m2)) and their respective comparators (White adults; <65 years; BMI <30 kg/m2) RESULTS: MVPA was inversely associated with pain interference (r = -0.16); pain intensity (r = -0.16); fatigue (r = -0.16), and positively associated with 30CST (r = 0.29) and 6MWT (r = 0.47) (p < 0.05). Sedentary time (r = -0.29) was inversely associated with 6MWT performance (p < 0.05). Results of the t-tests can be found in Table 1. Older adults, AA, and adults with obesity accrued less MVPA and distance in the 6MWT (ps < 0.05). Adults with obesity had higher pain interference; pain intensity, and fatigue, while AA performed worse in the 30CST respectively to their comparators (ps < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Lower activity levels among adults with arthritis are closely associated with worse health-related measures and physical function performance. Targeted strategies towards routine engagement in MVPA and sedentary reduction for traditionally underserved populations are needed to achieve health equity. Table 1: - Differences in Health-Related Measures, Activity Levels and Physical Function Among Subgroups African American (n = 138) White (n = 82) p <65 years (n = 116) ≥65 years (n = 113) p BMI <30 kg/m2 (n = 79) BMI ≥30 kg/m2 (n = 150) p Pain Interference (t-score), Mean (SD) 56.2(8.2) 54.6 (9.1) 0.08 55.8 (7.8) 55.5 (7.6) 0.80 54.2 (7.7) 56.4 (7.6) 0.04 Pain Intensity (t-score), Mean (SD) 56.1(9.1) 54.5 (7.9) 0.09 55.5 (9.4) 55.6 (7.9) 0.94 54.0 (8.7) 56.3 (8.6) 0.05 Stiffness (mm), Mean (SD) 28.0 (38.8) 24.7 (40.1) 0.54 28.2 (41.1) 25.6 (38.2) 0.37 27.8 (33.9) 26.2 (42.3) 0.06 Fatigue (mm), Mean (SD) 28.8 (127.8) 28.8 (132.1) 0.75 29.4 (126.9) 28.1 (130.7) 0.45 25.8 (130.2) 29.8 (128.0) 0.03 MVPA (min/week), Mean (SD) 50.4 (71.8) 72.2 (89.1) 0.03 45.6 (70.8) 72.2 (83.9) <0.001 80.0 (103.7) 48.1 (59.1) 0.02 Daily Sedentary Time (%), Mean (SD) 72.0% (8.7%) 71.7% (8.2%) 0.83 71.3% (8.5%) 72.4% (8.5% 0.31 70.6% (8.6%) 72.5% (8.4%) 0.12 6MWT (feet), Mean (SD) 1247.1 (273.3) 1418.6 (281.7) <0.001 1360.8 (298.1) 1259.9 (289.4) 0.01 1435.0 (278.3) 1245.8 (287.2) <0.001 30CST (repetitions), Mean (SD) 8.5 (2.9) 9.9 (2.7) <0.001 9.3 (3.2) 8.7 (2.6) 0.09 9.3(2.9) 8.9 (3.0) 0.31 CDC U48DP006401, NIGMS/NIH-T32