The link between sarcopenia and rheumatoid arthritis

A recent study by the German Rheumatism League shows that patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are eleven times more likely to be affected by sarcopenia than the control group. 289 patients aged 18 and over with RA took part in the study, and their results were compared with those of people without an underlying inflammatory disease. It is notable that RA patients are affected by sarcopenia at a younger age than people without an underlying inflammatory disease. These findings underline the need to watch for signs of muscle loss in RA patients at an early stage and to take appropriate countermeasures.