Disability in arthritis linked to fat limbs

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients who have more fat on their arms and legs suffer more disability from the disease, according to new research.

Patients who had leaner limbs were at lower risk of disability, but the effect of fat mass was stronger, researchers from The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine report in the medical journal Arthritis Care and Research.

Researchers observed the body composition and disability of 118 women and 79 men with rheumatoid arthritis. They used a standard Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) to determine disability.

The findings showed that the more fat patients had on their limbs, the higher their HAQ score. On the other hand, the more lean mass patients had on their arms and legs, the lower their HAQ score, indicating better physical function.

"Body composition, particularly the amount of fat and lean mass located in the arms and legs, is strongly associated with disability in RA patients," the study authors concluded.

A spokesman for the Arthritis Research Campaign said that many patients with RA had weak muscles as a result of their condition and found it difficult to carry out regular exercise which would help their reduce their weight and increase their muscle mass.

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