ArticleClinical rheumatology2021
Earlier chronotype in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
Article in Clinical rheumatology, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. An erratum has been issued. Cited by 9 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
9 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 14 citations in OpenAlex.
- Chronotype in Patients With Immune-Mediated Inflammatory Disease: A Systematic Review.Journal of biological rhythms · 2023Pooled it
- A temporal dialogue between the circadian clock and chronic inflammatory diseases.Disease models & mechanisms · 2026Review
- Morning Larks and Night Owls: Considering Chronotype in Evaluation of Patients with Pulmonary Hypertension.Annals of the American Thoracic Society · 2026Article
- Dynamic psychological vulnerability and adaptation in rheumatoid arthritis: Trajectories, predictors, and interventions.World journal of psychiatry · 2026Review
- The Associations of Chronotype and Shift Work With Rheumatoid Arthritis.Journal of biological rhythms · 2023Article
- Adaptive immunity, chronic inflammation and the clock.Seminars in immunopathology · 2022Review
- Chronobiology and Chronotherapy in Inflammatory Joint Diseases.Pharmaceutics · 2021Review
- Czech and Slovak Members of Religious Institutes: Their Health in Comparison to the General Population.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2021Article
- Cancer-related Fatigue in Relation to Chronotype and Sleep Quality in (Non-)Hodgkin Lymphoma Survivors.Journal of biological rhythms · 2021Article
Corrections and comments
- Erratum issued
Authors and funding
8 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectivesRheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients show an earlier circadian rhythm (i.e. serum melatonin peaks earlier during the night, indicating an earlier timing of the internal circadian pacemaker). In the current study, we examined whether the chronotype, which is influenced by the circadian rhythm, is also earlier. In addition, we explored whether chronotype is related to disease activity and patient-reported outcomes.
methodsThe chronotype (Munich Chronotype Questionnaire) of patients with RA (n = 121; mean age 60 years, 73% female) was compared with that of subjects from the general population (norm group; n = 1695) with a one-sample t test. In addition, we investigated chronotype in relation to disease activity (Disease Activity Score; DAS), reported morning stiffness, fatigue (Checklist Individual Strength), and health-related quality of life (RAND-36).
resultsThe chronotype of patients with RA was, on average, 23 min (95% CI, 15 to 31 min) earlier than that of the norm group (t(115) = - 5.901, p < 0.001, d = 0.55). Chronotype was not related to disease activity or patient-reported outcomes (p > 0.05).
conclusionAs expected, chronotype was earlier in RA patients. However, in this correlational study, chronotype was not related to disease activity or patient-reported outcomes. An experimental study is needed to examine whether delaying the circadian rhythm has a positive influence on these outcomes. This insight could improve our understanding of the pathophysiology of RA and contribute to exploring new treatment possibilities. Key Points • This is the first study examining chronotype in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, and how chronotype relates to disease activity and patient-reported outcomes. • We found an earlier chronotype in patients with rheumatoid arthritis than in subjects from the general population. • In this correlational study, chronotype was not related to disease activity or patient-reported outcomes. An experimental study is needed to examine whether delaying the circadian rhythm positively influences these outcomes.
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