The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of a yoga program based on "Yoga in daily life system" in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The investigators want to explore whether this program will improve health-related quality of life and psychological well-being in patients. In addition they want to explore its potential positive modulation of the immune system.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic disabling inflammatory disease that substantially impacts health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of patients. In addition to pain, fatigue and physical disability the disease also affects psychological health. Yoga, a mind-body therapy, integrates physical exercises with relaxation and meditation. Published data suggest its beneficial effects on both physical and mental health in various chronic conditions. The true biological mechanism underlying these effects is not well known. Recent research suggests potential modulation of the immune system and inflammation-related gene expression changes. Hypothesis: Yoga program based on Yoga in daily life system has positive impact on clinical and biologic outcomes in RA patients. Aims: To determine the impact of a 12-week yoga program on measures of psychological distress, HRQOL, fatigue, pain, disease activity, levels of circulating inflammatory markers and pro-inflammatory gene expression. Materials and methods: 50 RA patients, aged 18-65 years, on stable standard pharmacological treatment will be randomly assigned to a 12-week yoga intervention (based on "Yoga in daily life system") or arthritis-education control. Self-administered questionnaires will be used to assess quality of life and psychological well-being of the patients. Blood samples will be collected for measurement of inflammatory markers and expression of a set of pro-inflammatory genes. Disease activity will be assessed by DAS28CRP score. The patients will be assessed on baseline, post-treatment and at 3 months follow-up. This research will provide information on potential efficacy of yoga program in improving physical and psychological outcomes in persons with RA and explore its influence on immunological system.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
57
Yoga classes will be conducted 2xweekly/ 90 minutes and consist of physical exercises (asanas), breathing exercises (pranayama), relaxation and self-enquiry meditation based on Yoga in daily life system.
Arthritis-education classes will be conducted 1xweekly/ 120 minutes and led by rheumatology specialists and consist of lectures on arthritis and related issues followed by group discussion.
University Hospital Dubrava
Zagreb, Croatia
Change in health-related quality of life
The Medical Outcomes Survey 36-item Short-Form Healthy Survey ( SF-36). A 36 item generic health survey measures general health concepts through 8 domains: physical functioning, role physical, bodily pain, global health, vitality, social functioning, role emotional, mental health. Scores 0-100, with higher scores indicating better health
Time frame: baseline and 12 weeks
Change in pro-inflammatory gene expression
RT-PCR analysis of expression of a set of pro-inflammatory genes. Changes from baseline to 12 weeks
Time frame: baseline and 12 weeks
Change in blood levels of hs-CRP
hs-CRP (mg/l) changes from baseline to 12 weeks
Time frame: baseline and 12 weeks
Change in blood levels of hs-CRP
hs-CRP (mg/l) changes from baseline to 24 weeks
Time frame: baseline and 24 weeks
Change in pain intensity
Visual analogue scale 0-10, with higher scores indicating higher pain intensity
Time frame: baseline and 12 weeks
Change in pain intensity
Visual analogue scale 0-10, with higher scores indicating higher pain intensity
Time frame: baseline and 24 weeks
Change in perceived stress
Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) consists of 10 items. Range 0-40 points with higher scores indicating greater levels of stress
Time frame: baseline and 12 weeks
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Change in perceived stress
Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) consists of 10 items. Range 0-40 points with higher scores indicating greater levels of stress
Time frame: baseline and 24 weeks
Change in rheumatoid arthritis activity
Disease Activity Score 28 (DAS28CRP). Composite index including a non-graded 28 tender and swollen joint count, patients global health (VAS-GH scored 0-100), and CRP in mg/l. It is based on a complex equasion DAS28 = 0.56 × √\[t28\] + 0.28 × √\[sw28\] + 0.70 × Ln \[CRP\] + 0.014 × GH. Lower range 0, no higher range. Higher levels indicating higher disease activity
Time frame: baseline and 12 weeks
Change in rheumatoid arthritis activity
Disease Activity Score 28 (DAS28CRP). Composite index including a non-graded 28 tender and swollen joint count, patients global health (VAS-GH scored 0-100), and CRP in mg/l. It is based on a complex equasion DAS28 = 0.56 × √\[t28\] + 0.28 × √\[sw28\] + 0.70 × Ln \[CRP\] + 0.014 × GH. Lower range 0, no higher range. Higher levels indicating higher disease activity
Time frame: baseline and 24 weeks
Change in fatigue intensity
Functional assessment of chronic illness therapy - fatigue (FACIT-F) scale consisting of 13 items. Range 0-52 with higher scores indicating higher levels of fatigue
Time frame: baseline and 12 weeks
Change in fatigue intensity
Functional assessment of chronic illness therapy - fatigue (FACIT-F) scale consisting of 13 items. Range 0-52 with higher scores indicating higher levels of fatigue
Time frame: baseline and 24 weeks
Change in anxiety and depression symptoms
Hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS) measures levels of anxiety and depression (total score range 0-42 points) consists of subscale for anxiety 0-21 points and sub-scale for depression 0-21 points. Higher scores indicate higher levels of anxiety / depression.
Time frame: baseline and 12 weeks
Change in anxiety and depression symptoms
Hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS) measures levels of anxiety and depression (total score range 0-42 points) consists of subscale for anxiety 0-21 points and sub-scale for depression 0-21 points. Higher scores indicate higher levels of anxiety / depression.
Time frame: baseline and 24 weeks
Change in rheumatoid arthritis impact of disease
Rheumatoid arthritis impact of disease questionnaire (RAID) is a patient-derived scores assessing 7 most important domains of impact of rheumatoid arthritis. Domains include pain, functional disability, fatigue, emotional and physical well-being, sleep and coping. Range 0-10.Higher scores reflect higher levels of symptoms.
Time frame: baseline and 12 weeks
Change in rheumatoid arthritis impact of disease
Rheumatoid arthritis impact of disease questionnaire (RAID) is a patient-derived scores assessing 7 most important domains of impact of rheumatoid arthritis. Domains include pain, functional disability, fatigue, emotional and physical well-being, sleep and coping. Range 0-10.Higher scores reflect higher levels of symptoms.
Time frame: baseline and 24 weeks