Key clinical point: Longitudinal data suggest lower muscle density is associated with a decline in physical functioning in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Major finding: Higher baseline muscle density was associated with a lower risk of deterioration in walking speed (odds ratio, 2.87) and Health Assessment Questionnaire scores (odds ratio, 1.90).

Study details: Longitudinal cohort study in 107 patients with RA.

Disclosures: The study was supported by the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences of the NIH. The authors reported having no conflicts of interest.