title: Profile of energy expenditure in people with rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  No definitive conclusions have been made on the levels of physical activity in the rheumatoid arthritis (RA) population. Similarly no clear consensus has been reached on the correlates and predictors of physical activity in the population.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To profile total energy expenditure (TEE), resting energy expenditure (REE) and physical activity related energy expenditure (PAEE) levels using a validated objective measurement tool and to determine demographic and health related factors which influence and predict TEE and PAEE levels in individuals with RA.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty nine (41 female, 18 male) individuals with RA were recruited to this cross sectional study. Energy expenditure was measured over seven days using SenseWear Armband. Correlational analysis and logistic regression were used to examine the relationship between demographic and health related factors and TEE, REE and PAEE.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A profile of energy expenditure in RA individuals was developed in terms of levels, differences between genders and differences between weekdays and weekend days. Median TEE, PAEE and REE were 2204.0, 409.5 and 1506.2 kcal/day respectively. Energy expenditure was associated with factors such as gender, age, body mass index, employment status, disease severity and smoking.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings add to the growing research assessing energy expenditure in the RA population and strengthen the position due to the use of an objective validated tool. Some recommendations on what factors are associated with energy expenditure in the RA population are made, thus unveiling ways to tailor physical activity type interventions in this group.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Therapies, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland. Electronic address: marie.m.tierney@nuigalway.ie.
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tierney
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Mid-Western Regional Hospital, Limerick, Ireland.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fraser
authors.affiliation: Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland.
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Purtill
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Therapies, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland.
authors.forename: Norelee
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kennedy
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000378:metabolism; D001481:Basal Metabolism; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D004651:Employment; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D005082:Physical Exertion; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking
keywords: Energy expenditure; Measurement; Physical activity; Rheumatoid arthritis