Table 1.
Rheumatoid arthritis patient clinical characteristics.
| Variable | HIIT RA cohort (n = 12) |
HIIT RA cohort: T cell subgroup (n = 6 of 12) |
HIIT RA cohort: Skeletal muscle subgroup (n = 9 of 12) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age, mean years (SD) | 63.9 (7.2) | 64.0 (6.3) | 63.0 (7.5) |
| Gender, n (%) | |||
| Female | 11 (91.6%) | 6 (100%) | 8 (88.9%) |
| Male | 1 (8.4%) | 0 (0%) | 1 (11.1%) |
| Rheumatoid factor positive, n (%) | 10/12 (83.3%) | 5/6 (83.3%) | 7/9 (77.8%) |
| Anti-cyclic citrullinated antibody positive, n (%) | 5/8 (62.5%) | 0/2 (0%) | 4/6 (66.7%) |
| Erosions on radiographs present, n (%) | 9/12 (75.0%) | 5/6 (83.3%) | 6/9 (66.7%) |
| Disease duration, months (SD) | 159.6 (86.7) | 160.0 (108.3) | 140.0 (88.0) |
| DAS-28, mean (SD) | |||
| Baseline | 3.1 (1.5) | 2.6 (0.4) | 2.8 (1.0) |
| Post-HIIT | 2.3 (1.5)* | 1.9 (0.5)* | 2.1 (0.8)* |
| BMI, mean kg/m2 (SD) | |||
| Baseline | 27.4 (9.3) | 26.0 (4.2) | 24.7 (4.8) |
| Post-HIIT | 27.7 (9.8) | 26.0 (4.2) | 24.8 (4.8) |
| Cardiorespiratory fitness (VO2 peak), mean ml/kg/min (SD) | |||
| Baseline | 24.9 (6.6) | 25.2 (5.1) | 27.6 (4.2) |
| Post-HIIT | 27.1 (7.0)* | 26.7 (5.0)# | 29.8 (4.6)* |
| RA medication use, n (%) | |||
| Infliximab | 2 (16.7%) | 1 (16.7%) | 2 (22.2%) |
| Adalimumab | 2 (16.7%) | 1 (16.7%) | 2 (22.2%) |
| Tofacitinib | 1 (8.3%) | 1 (16.7%) | 1 (11.1%) |
| Methotrexate | 6 (50%) | 3 (50%) | 3 (33.3%) |
| Leflunomide | 1 (8.3%) | 1 (16.7%) | 1 (11.1%) |
| Sulfasalazine | 2 (16.7%) | 0 (0%) | 2 (22.2%) |
| Hydroxychloroquine | 4 (33.3%) | 1 (16.7%) | 3 (33.3%) |
| NSAIDs | 8 (66.7%) | 2 (33.3%) | 7 (77.8%) |
| Prednisone (< 5 mg/day) | 3 (25%) | 1 (16.7%) | 3 (33.3%) |
HIIT high intensity interval training, RA rheumatoid arthritis, DAS-28 disease activity score in 28 joints, BMI body mass index.
*p < 0.05 for paired t-test comparisons between pre-HIIT and post-HIIT.
#p = 0.05 for paired t-test comparisons between pre-HIIT and post-HIIT.