AI Insight
A longitudinal observational study followed 61 patients with chronic inflammatory arthritis (spondyloarthritis, psoriatic arthritis, or rheumatoid arthritis) who had been referred to an adapted physical activity program, assessing their adherence to WHO physical activity recommendations more than one year after initial consultation. Approximately two-thirds of respondents (67.2%) met the WHO threshold of at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity or 75 minutes of vigorous physical activity per week. Male sex was the only factor significantly associated with long-term adherence, with men showing substantially higher odds of meeting WHO recommendations (OR 7.85, 95% CI 1.60-38.42), while clinical disease characteristics and treatment variables showed no significant association.
Why it matters
These findings suggest that adapted physical activity programs can support sustained exercise habits in patients with chronic inflammatory arthritis, but also indicate that sex-related disparities in long-term engagement need to be addressed when designing targeted interventions for this population.
by Hugo Gondouin, Mathias Poussel, Eliane Albuisson, Margaux Temperelli, Oriane Hily, Anthony Moussu, Isabelle Chary-Valckenaere, Damien Loeuille, Bruno Chenuel, Edem Allado
Adapted physical activity is recommended as a non-pharmacological strategy for the management of chronic inflammatory arthritis. However, the long-term adherence of patients to physical activity programs remains a major challenge in clinical practice. The present study aimed to assess adherence to World Health Organization (WHO) physical activity recommendations and to identify factors associated with long-term adherence in patients with chronic inflammatory arthritis (CIA).
This longitudinal observational study included patients with spondyloarthritis, psoriatic arthritis, or rheumatoid arthritis who were referred to a specialized center for adapted physical activity between 2019 and 2021. Baseline demographic, clinical, and treatment-related variables were collected during the initial medical consultation. In August 2023, participants were contacted by telephone to assess their level of physical activity using a standardized questionnaire. Adherence was defined as meeting the WHO recommendations of at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity or 75 minutes of vigorous physical activity per week.
Among the 78 patients initially included, 61 responded to the follow-up assessment. Of these, 41 participants (67.2%) met the WHO physical activity recommendations. In univariate analyses, no clinical or treatment-related variables were significantly associated with long-term adherence. Male sex was the only factor significantly associated with adherence, with men showing a higher likelihood of meeting the WHO recommendations after adjustment for underlying pathology (OR 7.85, 95% CI 1.60–38.42).
In this real-world cohort of patients with chronic inflammatory arthritis, approximately two-thirds of respondents maintained a level of physical activity consistent with WHO recommendations more than one year after the initial consultation. Clinical disease characteristics were not associated with adherence, while sex appeared to influence long-term engagement in physical activity. These findings highlight the need for further studies to better understand determinants of long-term adherence to adapted physical activity in this population.