Bioelectric Phase Angle and Appendicular Skeletal Muscle Mass in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Association With Disease Activity, Impact of Disease, and Functional Disability
Authors' conclusion
A lower PhA was associated with greater disease impact and greater significant functional disability in patients with RA.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) at a tertiary hospital in Portugal (74% female; mean age 60.9 [SD 9.6] years)
- Participants
- 104 patients
- Exposure
- Phase angle (PhA) tertiles (and ASMI groups per EWGSOP2) vs RA disease activity, disease impact and functional disability
- Outcome
- Relationship of disease activity (DAS28-ESR, DAS28-CRP), disease impact (RAID) and functional disability (HAQ) with PhA and ASMI
Methodological detailssingle-centre, tertiary hospital, bioelectrical impedance analysis
- Single-centre
- Tertiary hospital
- Bioelectrical impedance analysis
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
- PhA tertile (PhA-T3) vs PhA-T2: P = 0.001
- PhA-T3 vs PhA tertile (PhA-T1): P < 0.001
- PhA-T3 vs PhA-T1: P < 0.001
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Median DAS28-ESR and DAS28-CRP by PhA
- Lower among patients with higher PhA, not statistically significant: DAS28-ESR
- P = 0.07
- Lower among patients with higher PhA, not statistically significant: DAS28-CRP
- P = 0.16
Disease measures among ASMI groups (EWGSOP2)
- No differences in DAS28-ESR
- P = 0.62
- No differences in DAS28-CRP
- P = 0.97
- No differences in Rheumatoid Arthritis Impact of Disease (RAID)
- P = 0.30
- No differences in Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ)
- P = 0.51
Original publication
Bioelectric Phase Angle and Appendicular Skeletal Muscle Mass in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Association With Disease Activity, Impact of Disease, and Functional Disability. J Rheumatol. Published 1 August 2026. doi:10.
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