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Jack Barton | 2014-07-04 06:36:12
Rheumatoid arthritis is a condition which causes swelling, stiffness and pain around the joints potentially reducing independence and one’s ability to perform daily activity. It is also known to increase risk of cardiovascular disease (Kitas and Gabriel, 2011). Therefore it makes intuitive sense that adverse mental health displays increased prevalence in the condition.
This is represented in current literature demonstrating not only increased prevalence of depression in rheumatoid arthritis but also increased risk of mortality in those that display depressive symptoms (Matcham et al, 2013).
Therefore there is a fundamental need to approach the condition in a holistic manner attempting to find a solution which improves prognosis of symptoms and comorbidities including depression and cardiovascular disease. If only there was some kind of lifestyle change that could improve prognosis of all of these conditions….
Activity once again appears to trump all. Increasing daily activity is known to reduce risk of mortality in cardiovascular disease demonstrating a relatively linear relationship (Wen et al, 2011). Engaging in aerobic activity is also shown to reduce pain and improve quality of life in rheumatoid arthritis (Baillet et al, 2010). It is also well established that depressive symptoms are improved in populations with chronic illness (Herring et al, 2012).
The argument for an emphasis on increasing activity in rheumatoid arthritis is in my opinion indisputable and must be explained more clearly to individuals perhaps less motivated to engage in physical activity due to joint pain and stiffness.
Just another set of reasons why increasing daily activity is at the heart of One Precious Life.
Jack Barton (Researcher, Rescon Ltd)
References
Baillet, A., Zeboulon, N., Gossec, L., Combescure, C., Bodin, L. A. et al. (2010). Efficacy of cardiorespiratory aerobic exercise in rheumatoid arthritis: Meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials. Arthritis Care & Research, 62(7), 984-992.
Herring, M. P., Puetz, T. W., O’Connor, P. J., & Dishman, R. K. (2012). Effect of exercise training on depressive symptoms among patients with a chronic illness: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Archives of Internal Medicine, 172(2), 101-111.
Kitas, G. D., & Gabriel, S. E. (2011). Cardiovascular disease in rheumatoid arthritis: state of the art and future perspectives. Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, 70(1), 8-14.
Matcham, F., Rayner, L., Steer, S., & Hotopf, M. (2013). The prevalence of depression in rheumatoid arthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Rheumatology, 52(12), 2136-2148.
Wen, C. P., Wai, J. P. M., Tsai, M. K., Yang, Y. C., Cheng, T. Y. D. et al. (2011). Minimum amount of physical activity for reduced mortality and extended life expectancy: a prospective cohort study. The Lancet, 378(9798), 1244-1253.