Improved vascular health linked to increased physical activity levels and reduced sedentary behavior in rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is characterized by deteriorated vascular health and increased cardiovascular risk. Physical activity (PA) is recommended for cardiovascular management in RA, but evidence on the associations between objectively-measured PA and vascular health markers in RA is limited. In this cross-sectional study, eighty-two post-menopausal women with RA (62±7 years) undertook ultrasound assessments of vascular function and structure, including brachial and superficial femoral artery (BA and SFA) flow-mediated dilation; baseline and post-hyperemia peak diameters; and carotid intima-media thickness. Participants also performed a 7-day accelerometer-based assessment of PA and sedentary behavior (SB). Fitted regression models controlled for age, body mass index and disease activity were conducted to examine associations between vascular and PA outcomes. Regression analyses revealed that prolonged SB (bouts>60min) and total sedentary time were inversely associated with both baseline and peak BA diameters, with each additional hour of SB resulting in decreases of 0.08-0.1mm in these diameters (p≤0.01). Total sedentary time also showed similar negative associations with peak SFA diameters (β=-0.14[-0.24-0.05], p<0.01). Conversely, light-intensity PA and stepping time were positively associated with both baseline and peak BA diameters, with each additional hour increasing these diameters by 0.10-0.24mm (p≤0.02). Finally, standing time was positively associated with SFA peak diameter (β=0.11[0.01-0.20], p=0.02). No associations were found between moderate-to-vigorous PA and vascular outcomes. In conclusion, in patients with RA, SB was negatively, while light PA was positively, associated with BA and SFA diameters. These findings suggest that reducing SB and increasing PA, even at light intensities, may improve vascular health in RA.