Aerobic Exercise and Fatigue in Rheumatoid Arthritis Participants: A Meta‐Analysis Using the Minimal Important Difference Approach

• Published in: Arthritis care & research (2010) Vol. 70; no. 12; pp. 1735 - 1739
• Main Authors: Kelley, George A., Kelley, Kristi S., Callahan, Leigh F.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.12.2018
• Subjects: Adult; Aerobics; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Arthritis, Rheumatoid - diagnosis; Arthritis, Rheumatoid - physiopathology; Arthritis, Rheumatoid - therapy; Exercise; Exercise Therapy - methods; Exercise Tolerance; Fatigue; Fatigue - diagnosis; Fatigue - physiopathology; Fatigue - therapy; Female; Humans; Male; Meta-analysis; Middle Aged; Minimal Clinically Important Difference; Physical fitness; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Recovery of Function; Rheumatoid arthritis; Self Report; Statistical analysis; Treatment Outcome; Young Adult
• ISSN: 2151-464X; 2151-4658
• DOI: 10.1002/acr.23570

Objective To use the minimal important difference (MID) versus the standardized mean difference (SMD) approach in order to provide more robust and clinically relevant information regarding the association between land‐based aerobic exercise and changes in self‐reported fatigue among adults with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods Data from a previous meta‐analysis of 5 randomized controlled trials that represented up to 298 participants per study were utilized to calculate 9 effect sizes, using the MID approach. Data used to obtain the MID were derived from previously reported anchor‐based values specific to each fatigue instrument in adults with RA. Results were pooled using a random‐effects model. Results Aerobic exercise resulted in statistically significant reductions in self‐reported fatigue (MID effect size −0.34 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) −0.58, −0.10]; P = 0.006). Results were similar when effect sizes were collapsed so that only 1 effect size represented each study (MID effect size −0.39 [95% CI −0.76, −0.03]; P = 0.04). Conclusion Land‐based aerobic exercise is associated with statistically significant reductions in fatigue; however, based on previous cut points, it may be unlikely that a substantial number of participants with RA could obtain clinically relevant reductions in fatigue. Additional studies are needed, especially in those individuals with RA who have elevated levels of fatigue.