Self-determined motivation and physical activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a cross-sectional study.

Objective: To identify factors associated with two self-reported measures of physical activity (PA) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Method: Hospital outpatients with RA from central Norway filled in questionnaires about symptoms, psychological factors, and PA. Outcomes were two alternative self-reported measures of PA: (i) fulfilling the aerobic PA recommendations of ≥ 150 min/week at moderate intensity or ≥ 75 min/week at vigorous intensity; or (ii) being in the PA maintenance stage of the Stages of Exercise Behaviour Change framework.

The association between rheumatoid arthritis and reduced estimated cardiorespiratory fitness is mediated by physical symptoms and negative emotions: a cross-sectional study.

Objectives: Persons with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have lower cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) than healthy individuals. We sought to identify variables explaining the association between RA status and reduced CRF.

Methods: RA patients recruited from two Norwegian hospitals and blood donors recruited as controls filled in questionnaires about physical activity, physical symptoms, and psychological factors.

Persons with rheumatoid arthritis have higher barriers to physical activity than controls: a cross-sectional study using the Facilitators and Barriers to Physical Activity Questionnaire (FasBarPAQ).

Facilitators and barriers to performing physical activity (PA) may vary among persons with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) as well as between RA patients and healthy individuals. Primary objective: To investigate associations of presence of RA and levels of stress and depression with scores for facilitators and barriers to PA, using a new questionnaire (FasBarPAQ). Secondary objectives: investigate inter-individual score differences in persons with RA, and associations with RA disease-specific variables.

Inflammation mediates approximately one quarter of excess relative all-cause mortality in persons with rheumatoid arthritis: the Trøndelag Health Study.

Inflammation may contribute to excess mortality in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. We investigated associations to all-cause mortality of the inflammation markers high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP), lactoferrin (neutrophil activation marker), and neopterin (monocyte activation marker). From the population-based Trøndelag Health Study (3rd wave 2006-2008), 316 RA patients and 43,579 controls were included.

Exercise Self-Efficacy and patient global assessment were associated with 6-min walk test distance in persons with rheumatoid arthritis.

Introduction: Low functional capacity is related to future loss of daily function and cardiovascular events. The present study explored the associations of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) and disease-specific measures with functional capacity as measured by the 6-min walk test (6MWT) in persons with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: Seventy-nine participants from rheumatology outpatient clinics were included.

Mortality is increased in patients with rheumatoid arthritis or diabetes compared to the general population - the Nord-Trøndelag Health Study.

Persons with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or diabetes have increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and higher death rates compared to the general population. This study used data from the population-based Nord-Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT) and the Norwegian Cause of Death registry to compare all-cause mortality rates for RA or diabetes patients to the general population. We used Cox regression with age as time variable, adjusting for sex, smoking, body mass index, hypertension, total cholesterol, creatinine and previous CVD.