title: Effectiveness of a rehabilitative programme in improving fatigue and function in rheumatoid arthritis patients treated with biologics: a pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effectiveness of a personalised rehabilitative programme in improving fatigue and function in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) female patients treated with biologic DMARDs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-eight consecutive female RA in-patients treated with biologics, entered this prospective pilot study. All subjects were in high disease activity (DAS-28>5.1). After baseline (T0) evaluation, a personalised 4-weeks rehabilitative programme was added to standard biologic treatment and all patients were re-evaluated at the end of the rehabilitative treatment (T1), at 3 (T2), 6 (T3) and 9 (T4) month follow-up. Clinical rheumatologic assessment included the DAS-28, TJC, SJC, global health status, HAQ and FACIT.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Subjects showed a mean age of 65±3.5 years and a 10±1,1 years mean disease duration. All clinical and laboratory outcomes significantly improved at the different follow-up times as compared to baseline. In particular, a significant improvement in function and fatigue indices (HAQ and FACIT) was found since T1 to T4 as compared to T0. During the follow-up, DAS-28 decreased. Accordingly, about 30% of subjects achieved a moderate disease activity (DAS-28<5.1).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A combined treatment biologics-rehabilitation is effective in improving function and fatigue in female patients with established RA. Fatigue results independent from disease activity.
authors: Scientific Institute of Telese Terme, Italy. ldigioia@fsm.it
authors: Luisa
authors: L
authors: Di Gioia
authors: Carmela
authors: C
authors: Zincarelli
authors: Matteo Nicola Dario
authors: MN
authors: Di Minno
authors: Giuseppe
authors: G
authors: Rengo
authors: Rosario
authors: R
authors: Peluso
authors: Angelo
authors: A
authors: Spanò
authors: Salvatore
authors: S
authors: Iervolino
authors: Nicola
authors: N
authors: Pappone
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005221:Fatigue / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D057285:Precision Medicine; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents