Moderate- to high intensity aerobic and resistance exercise reduces peripheral blood regulatory cell populations in older adults with rheumatoid arthritis

Table 2 Variables pre and post intervention

	Control		Pre-post p-value	Exercise		Pre-post p-value	Δ-change p-value
	Pre (0 weeks)	Post (20 weeks)		Pre (0 weeks)	Post (20 weeks)
	n = 25	n = 24		n = 24	n = 24
VO2 max (mlO₂/min/kg)	17.2 (15.2–19.9)	16 (14.8–19-7)	0.45	19.3 (17.6–21.3)	21.5 (19.2–24.2)	< 0.0001	< 0.0001
STS (number)	21 (19–26)	24 (20–28)	0.02	23 (21–25)	27 (25–28)	< 0.0001	0.02
HAQ-DI	0.50 (0.25–0.94)	0.50 (0.25–0.97)	0.69	0.19 (0.0–0.84)	0.13 (0.0–0.72)	0.61	0.81
BMI	27.5 (24.8–30.4)	27.6 (24.6–29.8)	0.63	25.5 (21.4–28.0)	24.9 (21.3–27.9)	0.005	0.053
Systolic BP (mm Hg)	130 (123–145)	128 (120–134)	0.24	133 (130–140)	130 (120–134)	0.004	0.43
Diastolic BP (mm Hg)	80 (75–80)	80 (75–80)	0.92	80 (76–80)	80 (70–84)	0.51	0.77
CRP	2 (1–4)	2 (1–4)	0.65	2.5 (1–5.75)	2 (1–5.75)	0.36	0.73
N/L ratio	1.79 (1.31–2.76)	2.09 (1.29–2.78)	0.88	2.11 (1.53–2.96)	2.03 (1.38–2.75)	0.80	0.56
DAS28	2.27 (1.56–3.26)	2.12 (1.62–2.73)	0.63	2.23 (1.24–3.22)	2.04 (1.50–2.79)	0.47	0.88
CDAI	3.9 (2.6–6.6))	3.8 (2.0–6.9)	0.30	3.2 (2.0–7.1)	2.2 (0.7–8.0)	0.09	0.31
PGIC	–	3 (2.3–3.8)		–	2 (2.0–3.0)		0.02

Abbrevations: VO₂max maximal oxygen consumption, STS Sit To Stand test, HAQ-DI Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index, BMI Body Mass Index, BP blood pressure, CRP C-reactive protein, N/L ratio Neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio, DAS28 Disease Activity Score in 28 joints CDAI Clinical Disease Activity Index, PGIC Patient Global Impression of Change. Values are shown as median ± IQR. P-values are calculated using the Wilcoxon signed rank test for matched pre- and post samples or the Mann-Whitney test to compare the Δ-change between groups

ISSN: 1742-4933