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Different types of physical activity are positively associated with indicators of mental health and psychological wellbeing in rheumatoid arthritis during COVID-19.

Rheumatology international
February 1, 2021
Sophia M Brady et al. (7 authors)
Journal ArticleObservational StudyHuman StudyClinical
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to investigate associations between walking and mental health and wellbeing in people with rheumatoid arthritis during COVID-19 lockdown, and examine the moderation effects of self-isolating.

Results Summary

Walking was negatively associated with physical fatigue and depressive symptoms and positively associated with vitality. The study also found that walking was related to lower physical fatigue in people who were self-isolating.

Population

345 rheumatoid arthritis patients during the United Kingdom COVID-19 lockdown.

Effective Dosage

Not specified

Duration

Not specified

Interactions

None mentioned

Extracted Claims (13)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
Light PA (LPA)
decrease
mental fatigue
RA patients
β = - .11
was significantly negatively associated with
#1
Light PA (LPA)
decrease
depressive symptoms
RA patients
β = - .14
was significantly negatively associated with
#2
Light PA (LPA)
increase
vitality
RA patients
β = .13
positively associated with
#3
Walking
decrease
physical fatigue
RA patients
β = - .11
negatively related to
#4
Walking
decrease
depressive symptoms
RA patients
β = - .12
negatively related to
#5
Walking
increase
vitality
RA patients
β = .15
positively related with
#6
Exercise
decrease
physical fatigue
RA patients
β = - .19
negatively associated with
#7
Exercise
decrease
general fatigue
RA patients
β = - .12
negatively associated with
#8
Exercise
decrease
depressive symptoms
RA patients
β = - .09
negatively associated with
#9
Sedentary time (ST)
increase
physical fatigue
RA patients
β = .19
positively associated with
#10
Light PA (LPA)
decrease
mental fatigue
people not self-isolating
-
related to lower
#11
Light PA (LPA)
increase
vitality
people not self-isolating
-
related to better
#12
Walking
decrease
physical fatigue
people self-isolating
-
related to lower
#13
Abstract

Nationwide lockdowns during SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) can compromise mental health and psychological wellbeing and limit opportunities for physical activity (PA), particularly in clinical populations, such as people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), who are considered at risk for COVID-19 complications. This study aimed to investigate associations between PA and sedentary time (ST) with indicators of mental health and wellbeing in RA during COVID-19 lockdown, and examine the moderation effects of self-isolating. 345 RA patients completed an online questionnaire measuring PA (NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study Questionnaire), ST (International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form), pain (McGill Pain Questionnaire and Visual Analogue Scale), fatigue (Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory), depressive and anxious symptoms (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), and vitality (Subjective Vitality Scale) during the United Kingdom COVID-19 lockdown. Associations between PA and ST with mental health and wellbeing were examined using hierarchical multiple linear regressions. Light PA (LPA) was significantly negatively associated with mental fatigue (β = - .11), depressive symptoms (β = - .14), and positively with vitality (β = .13). Walking was negatively related to physical fatigue (β = - .11) and depressive symptoms (β = - .12) and positively with vitality (β = .15). Exercise was negatively associated with physical (β = - .19) and general (β = - .12) fatigue and depressive symptoms (β = - .09). ST was positively associated with physical fatigue (β = .19). Moderation analyses showed that LPA was related to lower mental fatigue and better vitality in people not self-isolating, and walking with lower physical fatigue in people self-isolating. These findings show the importance of encouraging PA for people with RA during a lockdown period for mental health and wellbeing.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
AgedAnxietyArthritis, RheumatoidCOVID-19Communicable Disease ControlDepressionExerciseFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedPandemicsPhysical DistancingSARS-CoV-2Sedentary BehaviorSurveys and Questionnaires
Study Links
Quality Scores
SafetyNot Assessed
Efficacy75/10
Quality80/10
Citation Metrics
Total Citations23
Citations/Year5.8
Relative Citation Ratio3.05
NIH Percentile85.3%
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.75
Weight Score2.62
Normalized Score0.66
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