RADIOLOGICALLY OBSERVED PROGRESSION OF JOINT DESTRUCTION AND ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH DEMOGRAPHIC-FACTORS, DISEASE SEVERITY, AND EXERCISE FREQUENCY IN PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID-ARTHRITIS

Background and Purpose. The aim of the study was to investigate the 4- year progression of radiologically observed joint destruction and its relationship with demographic factors, disease seventy, and exercise f requency in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Subjects. The subjects were 69 patients (56 women, 13 men; mean age = 54 years, mean duratio n of symptoms = 14 years) with American Rheumatism Association functio nal class II rheumatoid arthritis. Methods. The patients were assessed with a modified Larsen's radiological index (maximum score = 220), la boratory tests, Ritchie's articular index, and questionnaires regardin g their self-selected low intensive-intensive dynamic exercise frequen cy. Results. The Larsen's radiological index was initially 67 (SD = 42 .4) and progressed to 82 (SD = 42.3) during the 4-year study period. F our-year radiological progression correlated with mean erythrocyte sed imentation rate (30 mm/h, SD = 12.6), but not with self-selected exerc ise frequency (less-than-or-equal-to once a week or greater-than-or-eq ual-to twice a week) or with any other variables investigated. Conclus ion and Discussion. The radiologically observed progression of joint d estruction seemed rather slow in this group of nonhospitalized, functi onally independent patients with rheumatoid arthritis, and it was only related with mean erythrocyte sedimentation rate Self-selected exerci se frequency did not seem to be related with radiologically observed p rogression of joint destruction.