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Interventions Needed to Encourage Physical Activity Among Patients With GCA
Evidence suggests that patients with giant cell arteritis (GCA) could benefit from physical activity through potential anti-inflammatory effects on a cellular level, but little is known about the beliefs that patients with GCA hold about physical activity, according to the authors of a recent study.
Certain types of physical activity have been shown to improve strength, stability, confidence, and cardiovascular and mental health, and to relieve pain and fatigue, among patients with several inflammatory conditions, the authors noted.
The goal of this multinational, qualitative study was to gain new insight into patient perspectives of physical activity in GCA, including barriers, facilitators, and potential benefits. Researchers analyzed interviews with 36 patients (64% female, average age 74 years) from the UK (n=25) and Australia (n=11). All had a definitive diagnosis of GCA from imaging or biopsy.
This is a secondary analysis of data collected, where the primary study aimed to collect data for the development of a patient-reported outcome measure.
The researchers identified a total of 108 individual codes pertaining to physical activity from the interview responses. From that process, they observed 2 overarching themes: barriers to and facilitators of physical activity. Each overarching theme also contained 4 subthemes. Within barriers to physical activity, the subthemes were physical symptoms, personal capability, negative perceptions, and negative consequences. Within facilitators of physical activity, the subthemes were external factors, access to facilities, personal facilitators, and personal strategies.
Most of the participants reported that their limitations in physical activity were directly linked to their GCA, or its treatment.
The researchers wrote that further studies are needed to examine “how to address barriers and promote facilitators to enable behavioral change in relation to increasing physical activity in GCA, for both patients and medical professionals.”
—Allison Casey
Reference:
Austin K, Dures E, Almeida C et al. Patient perceptions of physical activity after a diagnosis of giant cell arteritis: Analysis of multinational qualitative data. Arthritis Care Res. 2022;74(1):99-106. doi: 10.1002/acr.24800
