Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on body composition among patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on body composition among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: A total 102 patients with RA were enrolled. We examined muscle mass, fat-free mass index (FFMI) and fat mass index (FMI) values using bioelectrical impedance analysis between November 2019 and January 2020 (for the first measurement) and September 2020 and January 2021 (for the second measurement). RESULTS: The muscle mass was significantly decreased from a median of 34.6 kg at the first measurement to a median of 33.9 kg at the second measurement (p = 0.002). The FFMI was significantly decreased from a median of 15.3 at the first measurement to a median of 14.8 at the second measurement (p = 0.011). CONCLUSIONS: The present study reveals that muscle mass and FFMI decreased among patients with RA during the COVID-19 pandemic.