Demmelmaier I, et al. - The goals of this study are to identify and depict two-year trajectories of fear-avoidance beliefs on physical activity and to recognize predictors of these trajectories in people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Based on these outcomes, stable trajectories of fear-avoidance beliefs on physical activity exist among people with RA. Fear-avoidance may be targeted more effectively by tailoring physical activity promotion to vulnerable socioeconomic groups, men and those with high activity limitation and anxiety/depression.

Methods

• In this study, they included total 2569 persons with RA.
• Among these, 77% were women.
• 58 years was the mean age.
• Data on fear-avoidance beliefs (Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire - Physical Activity subscale, FABQ-PA, 0-24), sociodemographics, disease-related variables, self-efficacy and health-enhancing physical activity (HEPA) were gathered from registers and by questionnaires at baseline, 14 and 26 months.
• K-means cluster examination was utilized to identify fear-avoidance trajectories and multinomial logistic regression was utilized to recognize indicators of trajectory membership.

Results

• Three trajectories of fear-avoidance beliefs were identified: “Low” (n=1,060, mean FABQ-PA=3), “Moderate” (n=1,043, mean FABQ-PA=9), and “High” (n=466, mean FABQ-PA=15).
• Consistent predictors of being in the “High” fear-avoidance trajectory versus the other two trajectories were: high activity limitation, male gender, income below average, not performing current HEPA and elevated anxiety/depression.
• Additional, less consistent predictors, for example, shorter education, more pain and low exercise self-efficacy were also identified.