[The influence of physical function on the risk of falls among adults with rheumatoid arthritis]

Objectives: Identify fall prevalence in the last 12 months among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and verify the influence of disease activity and physical function in the risk of falls.

Methods: 43 patients with RA participated in this study. The following parameters were evaluated: clinical aspects; fall occurrence in the last 12 months; ESR (mm/h); pain on a visual analogue scale (VAS) ranging from 0 to 10cm; disease activity, measured by the Disease Activity Score 28/ESR (DAS-28/ESR); physical function, assessed by the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ); and risk of falling, assessed by two tests, the 5-time sit down-to-stand up test (SST5) and the timed get up and go test (TUG).

Results: The fall prevalence in the last 12 months was 30.2% (13/43). The HAQ total score was the independent risk factor that had significant influence on SST5 performance, and the other variables did not succeeded to explain the SST5 variability. HAQ explained 42.9% of SST5 variability (P<0.001, adjusted R(2)=0.429). HAQ total score and ESR had a significant influence on TUG score performance. Together, these two variables explained 68.8% of the total variation in TUG score (adjusted R(2)=0.688).

Conclusion: Patients with RA have high fall prevalence and the functional disability represents the main factor related to falls risk.