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Functional capacity, physical activity, and arterial stiffness in patients with systemic sclerosis

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Abstract

Objectives

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a complex immune-mediated connective tissue disease, involving skin manifestations, vascular features, and organ-based complications that may affect functional capacity and physical activity. Functional capacity and physical activity are associated with arterial stiffness; however, this relationship has not been evaluated in patients with SSc. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the association of functional capacity and physical activity with arterial stiffness in patients with SSc.

Methods

Sixty-five patients with SSc were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Arterial stiffness was evaluated with carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cf-PWV). Functional capacity and physical activity were assessed with a six-min walk test (6MWT) and International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF), respectively.

Results

All participants were women, and the mean age was 54.91 ± 11.18 years. 6MWT distance and IPAQ-SF were inversely associated with cf-PWV in crude analysis (p < 0.05). The relationship between 6MWT distance and cf-PWV was maintained in the fully adjusted model (β =  − 0.007, 95% CI, − 0.013 to 0.000). Similarly, the association between IPAQ-SF and cf-PWV remained significant in the fully adjusted model (β =  − 0.001, 95% CI, − 0.002 to − 0.001).

Conclusion

The present study indicates that functional capacity and self-reported physical activity are independently associated with arterial stiffness in patients with SSc. Exercise interventions targeted to increase functional capacity and physical activity may help to regulate arterial stiffness in patients with SSc.

Key Points

• Arterial stiffness is an independent predictor of cardiovascular risk.

• SSc patients exhibit decreased exercise capacity and functional capacity.

• The association of functional capacity and physical activity with arterial stiffness in patients with SSc is unknown.

• Functional capacity and self-reported physical activity are independently associated with arterial stiffness in patients with SSc.

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Data availability

The data underlying this article will be shared on reasonable request to the corresponding author.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Sciences, Çankırı Karatekin University, Çankırı, Turkey

    Aylin Tanriverdi

  2. Faculty of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, Dokuz Eylül University, Izmir, Turkey

    Buse Ozcan Kahraman & Serap Acar

  3. Institute of Health Sciences, Pamukkale University, Denizli, Turkey

    Nazenin Hande Sezgin

  4. Cigli Training and Research Hospital, Izmir, Turkey

    Yesim Erez

  5. Department of Internal Disease, Rheumatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Dokuz Eylül University, Izmir, Turkey

    Ahmet Merih Birlik

  6. Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, Dokuz Eylül University, Izmir, Turkey

    Ebru Ozpelit

  7. Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Sciences, Acıbadem Mehmet Ali Aydınlar University, Istanbul, Turkey

    Sema Savci

  8. Present address: Çankırı Karatekin University Uluyazı Campus, Çankırı, Turkey

    Aylin Tanriverdi

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Contributions

AT, BOK, NHS, YE, SA, AMB, EO, and SS conceptualized and designed the study. AT, BOK, NHS, YE, AMB, and EO acquired, analyzed, and interpreted the data. AT and SS drafted the manuscript. AT, BOK, NHS, SA, AMB, and SS critically revised the manuscript for important intellectual content. All authors read and approved the final version of the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Aylin Tanriverdi.

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Tanriverdi, A., Ozcan Kahraman, B., Sezgin, N.H. et al. Functional capacity, physical activity, and arterial stiffness in patients with systemic sclerosis. Clin Rheumatol 43, 1657–1664 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10067-024-06953-0

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