TABLE 3.
Change in the clinical assessment outcomes after three and 6 months of treatment.
| Characteristics | Control group (n = 30) | Digoxin group (n = 30) | p-value* | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baseline | 3 months | 6 months | Baseline | 3 months | 6 months | A vs. C | 95%CI | B vs. D | 95%CI | |
| DAS28-CRP | 5.4 ± 0.83 | 4.96 ± 0.99 | 4.46 ± 1.14 | 5.46 ± 0.78 | 4.34 ± 1 | 3.43 ± 1.31 | 0.02 a | 0.1, 1.13 | 0.002 a | 0.4, 1.67 |
| DAS28-ESR | 5.94 ± 0.88 | 5.43 ± 1.06 | 4.90 ± 1.19 | 6.01 ± 0.80 | 4.76 ± 1.06 | 3.72 ± 1.46 | 0.017 a | 0.12, 1.22 | 0.001 a | 0.49, 1.87 |
| TJC | 11 (7.8–13) | 9 (5–12) | 7 (3–10) | 11 (8–13.3) | 6.5 (4–9) | 2.5 (1–7) | 0.043 b | 0.35, 4.65 | 0.003 b | 1.05, 5.21 |
| SJC | 7 (5–9) | 5.5 (3.75–8) | 4.5 (2–6.3) | 7 (5–9.3) | 3.5 (2–5.3) | 1 (0–3.3) | 0.022 b | 0.19, 3.27 | 0.004 b | 0.68, 3.59 |
| DAS28 class, n (%) | ||||||||||
| Remission (≤2.6) | 0 | 0 | 2 (6.7%) | 0 | 1 (3.3%) | 9 (30%) | 0.038 c | 2.5, 20.6 | 0.028 c | 1.2, 17.8 |
| Low (>2.6–3.2) | 0 | 1 (3.3%) | 4 (13.3%) | 0 | 5 (16.7%) | 8 (26.7%) | ||||
| Moderate (>3.2–5.1) | 10 (33.3%) | 15 (50%) | 14 (46.7%) | 11 (36.7%) | 19 (63.3%) | 8 (26.7%) | ||||
| High (>5.1) | 20 (66.7%) | 14 (46.7%) | 10 (33.3%) | 19 (63.3%) | 5 (16.7%) | 5 (16.7%) | ||||
| Patient’s Global Assessment of disease activity (0–100 mm, VAS) | 53.5 ± 11.5 | 45.6 ± 13.6 | 42 (24.8–51.3) | 53.9 ± 11.6 | 36.5 ± 15.4 | 26.5 (12.5–39.5) | 0.019 a | 1.53, 16.5 | 0.007 b | 3.18, 19.5 |
| Physician’s Global Assessment of Disease Activity (0–100 mm, VAS) | 45.1 ± 11.3 | 38.2 ± 13.3 | 34.5 (18.8–45) | 45.2 ± 11.5 | 29.9 ± 14.2 | 21.5 (8–31) | 0.022 a | 1.26, 15.5 | 0.009 b | 2.5, 17.7 |
| Patient’s assessment of pain (0–100 mm, VAS) | 51.7 ± 11.6 | 44.1 ± 13.5 | 36.7 ± 15.1 | 51.9 ± 11.7 | 35.1 ± 15.3 | 25.6 ± 16.5 | 0.019 a | 1.52, 16.4 | 0.009 a | 2.86, 19.2 |
| Morning stiffness (min) | 65.7 ± 9.74 | 56.3 ± 10.3 | 46.2 ± 12.4 | 65.7 ± 9.6 | 49.3 ± 11 | 35.2 ± 13.4 | 0.013 a | 1.56, 12.6 | 0.002 a | 4.38, 17.7 |
| HAQ-DI | 1.77 (1.47–2.23) | 1.67 (1.36–2.15) | 1.5 (1.23–2) | 1.87 (1.56–2.29) | 1.45 (1.16–1.77) | 1.18 (0.86–1.57) | 0.019 b | 0.08, 0.54 | 0.003 b | 0.16, 0.64 |
| CDAI | 28.1 ± 9.56 | 23.3 ± 10.3 | 18.6 (9.5–26) | 28.5 ± 9.12 | 17.3 ± 9 | 7.95 (3.6–17.2) | 0.02 a | 0.97, 11 | 0.003 b | 2.45, 12.4 |
| SDAI | 30.6 ± 10.6 | 25.5 ± 11.4 | 20.6 (10.5–28.9) | 31.2 ± 10.1 | 18.9 ± 9.9 | 8.7 (4–18.7) | 0.02 a | 1.05, 12.1 | 0.003 b | 2.64, 13.7 |
Data are presented in terms of mean ± SD, median (inter-quartile range IQR), or number and percentages.
a
Unpaired student’s t-test.
b
Mann-Whitney U test.
c
Chi-square test.
*Between groups comparison where A vs. C represent comparison between groups at 3 months and B vs. D represent comparison between groups at 6 months.
The bolded values are the statistically significant values p < 0.05.
Abbreviations: DAS28, Disease Activity Score-28; TJC, tender joint count; SJC, swollen joint count; HAQ DI, health assessment questionnaire disability index; CDAI, clinical disease activity index; SDAI, simplified disease activity index; 95%CI, 95% Confidence Interval.