title: [Sub-maximal aerobic capacity and quality of life of patients with rheumatoid arthritis].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Studies about sub-maximal aerobic capacity of patients with rheumatoid arthritis are scarce.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the sub-maximal aerobic capacity of these patients through the 6-min walk test, estimated age of the "muscular and cardiorespiratory" chain.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-seven consecutive patients (aged 20 to 60 years) with newly diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis will be included. Non-inclusion criteria will be: use of drugs (e.g.; methotrexate, beta-blockers), orthopaedic or rheumatologic conditions (other than rheumatoid arthritis) that may alter walking ability and recent infections. Exclusion criteria will be: 6-min walking test contra-indications and imperfect performance of the required lung function and walking maneuvers. Signs of walking intolerance will be: test interruption, distance ≤lower limit of normal, dyspnea score ≥5/10 (visual analogue scale) at the end of the test, haemoglobin oxygen saturation (SpO2) drop ≥5%, cardiac frequency at the end of the test ≤60% of maximum predicted. An estimated "muscular and cardiorespiratory chain" age higher than the chronological one will be considered as a sign of accelerated ageing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A high percentage of patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis would show evidences of walking limitation and accelerated "muscular and cardiorespiratory chain" ageing. There would be a significant correlation between the walking test and clinical, biological, radiological and pulmonary function data and the patients' quality-of-life status.
authors.affiliation: Service de rhumatologie, hôpital universitaire Farhat Hached, 4031 Sousse, Tunisie.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lataoui
authors.affiliation: Service de rhumatologie, hôpital universitaire Farhat Hached, 4031 Sousse, Tunisie.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Belghali
authors.affiliation: Service de rhumatologie, hôpital universitaire Farhat Hached, 4031 Sousse, Tunisie.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zeglaoui
authors.affiliation: Service de rhumatologie, hôpital universitaire Farhat Hached, 4031 Sousse, Tunisie.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bouajina
authors.affiliation: Service de physiologie et explorations fonctionnelles, hôpital universitaire Farhat Hached, 4031 Sousse, Tunisie; Laboratoire de physiologie, faculté de médecine de Sousse, université de Sousse, 4000 Sousse, Tunisie. Electronic address: helmi.bensaad@rns.tn.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ben Saad
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D005080:Exercise Test; D017079:Exercise Tolerance / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012119:Respiration; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Deficiency; Déficience; Exercice; Exercise; Exercise limitation; Incapacité à l’effort; Polyarthrite rhumatoïde; Pulmonary function test; Rheumatoid arthritis; Épreuve fonctionnelle respiratoire