A study published by Kumthekar in The Journal of Rheumatology found that among patients with rheumatic diseases aged 65 years and older, 54.4% of them reported performing moderate physical activity, and only about 14% reported partaking in high-intensity physical activity. In the entire surveyed population—consisting of about 3,350 participants, the majority of whom had rheumatoid arthritis—the median number of days per month where patients reported performing moderate to vigorous exercise for at least 30 minutes was 7. Patients who reported low levels of physical activity were at higher risk for worse pain scores, worse sleep quality and fatigue, depression, and more. Lastly, obese participants were more likely than nonobsese participants to report low levels of physical activity.
May 25, 2023