Treat-to-Target Treatment Fails to Restore either Body Composition or Objectively Assessed Physical Function in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients

Historically RA has been characterized by adverse changes in body composition (loss of muscle mass (MM) and excessive fat mass, especially trunk fat mass), termed rheumatoid cachexia. In turn, rheumatoid cachexia contributes to physical disability. Since rheumatoid cachexia is thought to be driven by inflammation, it would be anticipated that the success of treat-to-target (T2T) in reducing inflammation and disease activity would also benefit body composition and physical function. Pertinently, restoration of normal function is an explicit aim of EULAR and ACR recommendations and principles for T2T. This cross-sectional study evaluated the effect of T2T on body composition and objectively assessed function.