Physical activity and sedentary behaviour in people with inflammatory joint disease: a cross sectional study

Objectives
To determine 1) whether patients with inflammatory joint disease (IJD) meet current guidelines on physical activity; 2) which factors influence physical activity levels and sedentary behaviour in patients with IJD.

Method
Cross‐sectional study of 137 patients with medical diagnosis of an IJD prior to commencing a NHS‐run inflammatory Arthritis Exercise Programme. Physical activity and sedentary behaviour (SB) were measured objectively using a thigh worn physical activity monitor for seven consecutive days. Activity levels were subdivided into low physical activity (LPA) and moderate‐vigorous activity (MVPA). Firstly, activity levels were analysed against current guidelines of 150minutes of MVPA a week. Secondly time spent in SB, LPA and MVPA were analysed against possible determinants.

Results
29% of patients with IJD met current physical activity guidelines. Patients on average spend 10 hours a day in SB. Poor physical fitness measured by 6‐minute walk test was the only significant predictor (p=0.019) of high SB (R2 = 4.7%). Attending an exercise facility in the community (p=0.034) and low role limitations due to physical health (p=0.008) predicted high LPA following a backward multiple regression (R2 = 8.0%). Low role limitations due to emotional problems (p=0.031), higher physical fitness (p=0.002) and healthier exercise attitudes and beliefs (p=0.021) predicted meeting current physical activity guidelines following a backward conditional logistic regression explaining between 22.2% and 31.7% of variance.

Conclusions
Patients with IJD are inactive and spent a lot of time in SB. Good general health predicts high activity levels. No disease‐specific factors were found to determine SB, LPA or MVPA.