Dynamics of fatigue levels and physical indicators in RA patients
| Before RP | In the end of RP | р | |
| VAS fatigue level | 71,2 ± 9,08 (71,5; 64–78) | 70,4 ± 9,15 (70; 64–78) | p>0,05 |
| BRAF-NRS: severity | 6,83 ± 1,21 (7; 6–8) | 6,51 ± 1,18 (7; 6–7) | p<0,01 |
| BRAF-NRS: effect | 6,24 ± 1,07 (5; 4–6) | 5,95 ± 1,08 (6; 5–7) | p<0,05 |
| BRAF-NRS: overcoming | 5,0 ± 1,7 (7; 6–8) | 7,76 ± 1,37 (5; 4–5) | p>0,05 |
| 50 meter test, number of steps | 79,3 ± 8,64 (78; 73–84) | 78,91 ± 8,15 (78; 73–83) | p>0,05 |
| 50-meter test, walking time, seconds | 56,7 ± 8,72 (57; 50–63) | 55,9 ± 8,59 (56; 51–60) | р=0,01 |
* The data are presented as mean ± standard deviation (median; interquartile range)
After the completion of RP (Table), RA patients showed a significant reduction in the aspects of fatigue according to the NRS-severity (Z = 2.98, p = 0.003) and NRS-effect (Z = 2.08, p = 0.037) scales. There was also a decrease in the time spent by patients performing the 50 m walking test (t = 2.63, p = 0.01), but the total number of steps did not change (t = 1.44, p = 0.154). Fatigue and pain are important barriers to physical activity, but it is severe fatigue that reduces physical activity in patients with RA [4]. At the same time, physical activity itself can become a factor in reducing fatigue [5], including by reducing the activity of the disease [6].