Features of sarcopenic obesity in rheumatoid arthritis patients.

Aim: The present study aimed to determine the proportion of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with sarcopenic obesity and to identify associated factors through assessments of physical function and patient-reported outcomes (PROs).

Methods: A prospective cohort study of 321 RA patients aged 40-79 years was conducted. Participants were classified into four groups-Normal, Obesity, Sarcopenia, and Sarcopenic obesity-based on sarcopenia criteria, which included skeletal muscle mass index, grip strength, and physical function, as well as obesity criteria defined by body fat percentage.

The impact of social frailty and physical function on laughter frequency in rheumatoid arthritis patients: data from a multicenter observational study (T-FLAG).

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between laughter frequency, disease activity, physical function, and frailty in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients.

Methods: A total of 679 consecutive RA patients from a multicenter observational study conducted in 2023 were included. Laughter frequency was assessed using a standardized questionnaire, and patients were divided into the following four laughter frequency groups: 'almost every day,' '1-5 days per week,' '1-3 days per month,' and 'never or almost never.

Impact of prophylactic 5-hydroxytryptamine-3 receptor antagonist on postoperative nausea and vomiting in patients undergoing laparoscopic or robotic colorectal cancer surgery: a propensity score-matched analysis.

Purpose: Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is a common complication of surgery. This study evaluated the efficacy of prophylactic 5-hydroxytryptamine-3 receptor antagonist (5HT3RA) in preventing PONV in patients undergoing laparoscopic or robotic colorectal cancer (CRC) surgery.

Methods: Between April and June, 2022, 100 consecutive patients received 5HT3RA prophylaxis before anesthesia induction.

Association between frailty and oral function in rheumatoid arthritis patients: A multi-center, observational study.

Objectives: This study aims to investigate the association between frailty and oral function in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and to identify practical markers for early frailty detection and potential intervention strategies.

Patients And Methods: A multi-center observational cohort study (T-FLAG) included a total of 661 RA patients (186 males, 475 females; mean age: 68.5±13.

Investigation of the Risk of Frailty Progression Based on 5-Year Data in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Multicenter Observational Study (T-FLAG).

Objectives: To examine risk factors for non-frailty rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients progressing to frailty.

Methods: A total of 304 RA patients with records for frailty assessment based on the Japanese Cardiovascular Health Study (J-CHS) criteria from 2020 to 2024 were included. Patients classified as non-frail (J-CHS scores 0-3) in 2020 were followed annually, and those who did and did not progress to frailty were categorized into the frailty progression (n = 100) and non-frailty progression (n = 204) groups, respectively.

The association between difficult-to-treat rheumatoid arthritis and probable sarcopenia.

Objectives: To identify factors associated with probable sarcopenia in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: Probable sarcopenia was diagnosed using the SARC-F questionnaire. Patients with difficult-to-treat RA (D2T-RA) were defined as those with a history of using ≥2 biological/targeted synthetic (b/ts) disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (b/tsDMARDs) who had moderate or high disease activity.

Verification of grip strength as an evaluation tool for locomotive syndrome in rheumatoid arthritis.

Objectives: Locomotive syndrome (LS) leads to reduced physical function and a high risk of becoming bedridden. Grip strength serves as an indicator of upper limb and overall physical function. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with reduced grip strength frequently show finger and wrist joint inflammation.

Prevalence of social frailty in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: Data from a multicentre observational study (T-FLAG study).

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of social frailty and associated factors.

Methods: A total of 655 consecutive patients who were able to complete the Kihon Checklist (KCL) and the Questionnaire on Social Frailty between June and August 2022 were enrolled. Social frailty was assessed using the Makizako Social Frailty Index.

Factors associated with discrepancies in disease activity as assessed by SDAI and RAPID3 in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: Data from a multicentre observational study (T-FLAG).

Objectives: The present study aimed to examine discrepancies between assessments based on Routine Assessment of Patient Index Data 3 (RAPID3) and Simple Disease Activity Index (SDAI) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with controlled disease activity.

Methods: Data from 464 RA patients in SDAI remission or low disease activity (REM/LDA) were analysed. Patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures, including Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index (HAQ-DI), 25-question Geriatric Locomotive Function Scale (GLFS-25), and Kihon checklist (KCL), were assessed.

Association between heated tobacco product use and airway obstruction: a single-centre observational study, Japan.

Background: While heated tobacco products (HTPs) may affect pulmonary function, the evidence supporting the utility of screening for HTP use in clinical settings is insufficient. We examined the association between HTP use and airway obstruction after switching from cigarettes.

Method: The study subjects were patients aged ≥20 years undergoing surgery from December 2021 to September 2022 who completed spirometry and reported tobacco (cigarette and HTP) use status during the preoperative assessment.

Association between laughter, frailty, and depression in rheumatoid arthritis patients.

Objective: This study aimed to determine whether there are associations between laughter, disease activity, frailty, and depression in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients.

Methods: A total of 240 patients were included in this prospective cohort study on frailty in RA patients between March 2021 and June 2022. Patients were divided into the following four groups according to the frequency of laughter: "almost every day," "1-5 days per week," "1-3 days per month," and "never or almost never.

Associations of frailty with RA-ILD and poor control of disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: A multi-center retrospective observational study.

Background: This study aimed to investigate factors associated with frailty in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients.

Methods: A total of 656 RA patients were evaluated using data from an observational study in 2022. Among these patients, 152 with frailty were assigned to the frailty group, and 504 without frailty were assigned to the non-frailty group.

Well-controlled disease activity with drug treatment will not improve the frailty status of RA patients to robust state: A multicenter observational study (T-FLAG).

Objectives: To investigate a plateau in treatment enhancement for improving the frailty status of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients.

Methods: A total of 345 RA patients who were not robust in 2021 were assigned to the improved ("robust 2022," n = 51) and non-improved ("pre-frailty/frailty 2022," n = 294) groups. Factors associated with "robust 2022" were examined by logistic regression analysis.

Intervertebral fusion sites in patients with ankylosing spondylitis: A computed tomography study.

Objectives: To examine intervertebral fusion sites along the whole spine of patients with ankylosing spondylitis using computed tomography.

Methods: This retrospective study examined intervertebral fusion of five sites (anterior/posterior vertebrae, left/right zygapophyseal joints, and spinous process) on 23 vertebrae in the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar regions of the spine in 40 patients diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis at our institute between January 2004 and December 2022.

Results: Mean age [± standard deviation (SD)] was 40.

Relationship between frailty and methotrexate discontinuation due to adverse events in rheumatoid arthritis patients.

Introduction: Methotrexate (MTX) is an anchor drug in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Frailty is the intermediate condition between being healthy and disabled, and can lead to negative health outcomes. Adverse events (AEs) due to RA drugs are expected to be higher in frail patients.

Choice of and response to treatment in patients with early-diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis: Real-world data from an inception cohort in Japan (NICER-J).

Objective: Various guidelines recommend that patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) try to achieve clinical remission within 6 months, and early therapeutic intervention is important to this end. This study aimed to investigate short-term treatment outcomes of patients with early-diagnosed RA in clinical practice and to examine predictive factors for achieving remission.

Methods: Of the 210 patients enrolled in the multicenter RA inception cohort, 172 patients who were followed up to 6 months after treatment initiation (baseline) were included.

Locomotive syndrome in rheumatoid arthritis patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This study aimed to longitudinally evaluate the development of locomotive syndrome (LS) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients during the COVID-19 pandemic using the 25-question Geriatric Locomotive Function Scale (GLFS-25). Subjects were 286 RA patients (female, 70.6%; mean age, 64.

Validation of grip strength as a measure of frailty in rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients often exhibit finger/wrist joint symptoms and reduced grip strength. This study aimed to validate grip strength as a measure of frailty in RA patients. Subjects were 424 female RA patients (mean age ± standard deviation, 66.

Disease activity at baseline is an independent predictor of frailty at one year in pre-frail patients with rheumatoid arthritis; a multicenter retrospective observational study.

Objectives: To investigate factors predicting frailty for one year in pre-frail patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Method: A total of 298 RA patients who were pre-frail in 2020 were evaluated in this structured, retrospective observational study. Of the 298 patients, 42 who were frail and 256 who were not in 2021 were assigned to the frailty and non-frailty groups, respectively.