TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2018//
TI  - Factors affecting walking ability in female patients with rheumatoid arthritis
JO  - PLoS one
A1  - Morita, Yugo
A1  - Ito, Hiromu
A1  - Torii, Mie
A1  - Hanai, Akiko
A1  - Furu, Moritoshi
A1  - Hashimoto, Motomu
A1  - Tanaka, Masao
A1  - Azukizawa, Masayuki
A1  - Arai, Hidenori
A1  - Mimori, Tsuneyo
A1  - Matsuda, Shuichi
SP  - e0195059
EP  - e0195059
VL  - 13
IS  - 3
N2  - OBJECTIVE: To determine the factors associated with gait parameters in female patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). <br><br>METHODS: The gait analysis was performed in a large cohort of RA patients, and three basic gait parameters (step length, cadence and gait speed) were calculated. Clinical and laboratory data were also collected. Factors associated with gait parameters were analyzed using multivariable linear regression in the three models with forced entry. Then, we divided those patients with Health Assessment Questionnaire disability index (HAQ) scores ≤ 0.5 into two groups according to their gait speed that were compared to identify the characteristics of patients with a good HAQ score but poor walking ability. <br><br>RESULTS: A total of 318 female patients were analyzed. Knee extension strength had the strongest positive association with all three gait parameters (P < 0.0001), while methotrexate use was also positively associated with all three gait parameters (step length: P < 0.05, cadence: P < 0.05 in model 1 and 2; P < 0.01 in model 3, gait speed: P < 0.01). The disease activity score was negatively associated with step length and gait speed (step length, gait speed: P < 0.01 in model 1 and 2; P < 0.05 in model 3). 26% of patients with good HAQ scores showed slow gait speed. Patients with good HAQ scores and slow gait speed had higher disease activity scores (P < 0.05) and lower knee extension strength (P < 0.0001) than those with good HAQ scores and normal gait speed. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: High knee extension strength, low disease activity and administration of methotrexate were strongly associated with good walking ability in female patients with RA. And, even if patients showed good HAQ scores, about quarter of those patients had poor walking ability, and they showed higher disease activity, lower knee extension strength, compared to the patients with normal gait speed.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 1932-6203
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0195059
ID  - ref1
ER  -