Muscle performance in patients with Crohn's disease in clinical remission.
BACKGROUND
Because patients with Crohn's disease (CD) often show increased energy expenditure, nutritional deficiencies, and general fatigue, all which may persist after a flare, we hypothesized that CD could alter muscle mass and function. This study aimed to assess muscle strength and endurance in CD patients in clinical remission and the influencing factors.


METHODS
Forty-one outpatients (17 men and 24 women; age, 37 +/- 10 yr), in remission (CD Activity Index < 150) for > 3 months, and 25 age-matched healthy controls (10 men and 15 women; age, 37 +/- 13 yr) were evaluated. Evaluation included a sit-up test, hand-grip strength test, hand-grip endurance test, lower limb strength test, and lower limb endurance test (LE), as well as a measure of physical activity.


RESULTS
No significant difference was found between CD and control groups regarding weight, height, body mass index, fat mass, and fat-free mass. Strength performance was lower in CD subjects compared with controls, particularly for lower limb indexes: lower limb strength test (-24.6%, P < 0.001), LE (-25.8%, P < 0.001), and sit-up test (-25.1%, P < 0.001). Previous disease severity, disease duration, the cumulative dose of glucocorticosteroids, current inflammation, and global habitual physical activity did not affect muscle performance. A recent use of steroids improved LE.


CONCLUSIONS
CD patients in clinical remission have decreased muscle function that may affect their quality of life. This pattern is reflected by reduced strength and endurance indexes, particularly for lower limbs. The reasons for these changes need further study. Strength training should be assessed in these patients.
Wiroth
Jean-Baptiste
JB
Laboratoire d'Ergonomie Sportive et Performance, UFR STAPS, Université du Sud-Toulon Var, France. wiroth@univ-tln.fr
Filippi
Jérôme
J
Schneider
Stéphane M
SM
Al-Jaouni
Rima
R
Horvais
Nicolas
N
Gavarry
Olivier
O
Bermon
Stéphane
S
Hébuterne
Xavier
X
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D018737:Hand Strength; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018908:Muscle Weakness / Q000209:etiology*; D010807:Physical Endurance; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013256:Steroids / Q000627:therapeutic use
D013256:Steroids