LAUSR

Background Insomnia is seen in >60% of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). While cross-sectional studies have shown a positive association between regular physical activity and good sleep, there is a lack of knowledge on the effect of physical activity on insomnia in patients with RA. Objectives To examine the efficacy of intermittent aerobic exercise on sleep efficiency as well as the effect on fatigue and depressive symptoms. Methods 38 patients with RA were randomly assigned to either intermittent aerobic exercise training; 3 session/week for 6 weeks; intervention group (n=17) or usual care (controls group n=21). The primary outcome was change in polysomnography (PSG) assessed sleep efficiency while secondary outcomes included sleep (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index), fatigue (Bristol Rheumatoid Arthritis Fatigue Multi-Dimensional Questionnaire) and depression (The Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression). Results Sleep efficiency improved significantly in the intervention group from baseline 0.84 (95% CI 0.80-0.87) to end of the intervention 0.88 (95% CI 0.84-0.92) p=0.03, while for the control group the mean change was not significant. No between-group difference in change was observed. Fatigue was significantly reduced in the intervention group compared to the control group -16.0 (95%CI -25.1 - -7,04), including physical fatigue -4.99 (95%CI -7.25 - -2.74), cognitive fatigue -2.43 (95%CI -4.22 - -0.63) and living with fatigue -2.50 (95%CI -4.45- -0.54). Conclusion An intermittent aerobic exercise intervention presented no statistically significant effect on sleep efficiency in patients with RA compared with usual care. However, significant between-group differences were seen in subjectively reported fatigue including physical fatigue and cognitive fatigue and on depressive symptoms. References [1] Loppenthin K, Esbensen BA, Jennum P, et al. Effect of intermittent aerobic exercise on sleep quality and sleep disturbances in patients with rheumatoid arthritis - design of a randomized controlled trial. BMC musculoskeletal disorders2014 Disclosure of Interests Katrine Løppenthin: None declared, Julie Midtgaard: None declared, Bente Appel Esbensen Speakers bureau: For Pfizer, Mikkel Ǿstergaard Grant/research support from: Abbvie, Celgene, Centocor, Merck, Novartis, Consultant for: Abbvie, BMS, Boehringer-Ingelheim, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Hospira, Janssen, Merck, Novartis, Novo, Orion, Pfizer, Regeneron, Roche, and UCB, Speakers bureau: Abbvie, BMS, Boehringer-Ingelheim, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Hospira, Janssen, Merck, Novartis, Novo, Orion, Pfizer, Regeneron, Roche, and UCB, Jesper Frank Christensen: None declared, Tanja Thomsen: None declared, Anders Tolver: None declared, Poul Jennum: None declared