Table 1.
Comparison of Baseline Characteristics Between 1987 and 1998 Cohorts of Women with Recently Diagnosed RA who were Employed at Study Entry
| % (N) 1987 Cohort (N = 48) | % (N) 1998 Cohort (N = 91) | |
|---|---|---|
| Demographic Characteristics | ||
| Age 50 and Over | 43.8 (21) | 33.0 (27) |
| Beyond High School Education | 47.9 (23) | 60.4 (55) |
| Married | 60.4 (29) | 61.5 (56) |
| Non-Hispanic White | 87.5 (42) | 80.2 (73) |
| Income Over $40,000 (adjusted to 1998 Income levels)‡ | 41.7 (20) | 59.3 (54) |
| Work Status | ||
| Work 40 or More Hours Per Week | 52.1 (25) | 64.8 (59) |
| Like Work a Great Deal‡ | 64.6 (31) | 44.0 (40) |
| Want Full-time Work | 45.8 (22) | 31.9 (29) |
| Mostly Mental Job | 18.8 (9) | 30.8 (28) |
| White Collar | 79.2 (38) | 76.9 (70) |
| Supervisor | 45.8 (28) | 40.7 (37) |
| A Week or More of Sick Time per Year | 54.2 (26) | 54.9 (50) |
| Family/Social Characteristics | ||
| Very Satisfied and Satisfied with Household Activities | 52.1 (25) | 49.5 (45) |
| 1–2 People in Household | 45.8 (22) | 53.8 (49) |
| High Social Support (63 and over) | 50.0 (25) | 50.5 (46) |
| Very Easily Take Day Off | 54.2 (26) | 53.8 (49) |
| Self-Assessed Health Status | ||
| High Pain (25 and over) | 56.3 (27) | 60.4 (55) |
| Missed Work 1 or More Days Past Week | 16.7 (8) | 20.9 (19) |
| Physician-Assessed Health Status | ||
| High Total Flares (2 or more) | 68.8 (33) | 60.4 (55) |
| High Total Joint Deformities (1 or more) ‡ | 39.6 (19) | 22.0 (20) |
| Disease Stage of II or III‡ | 52.1 (25) | 23.1 (21) |
| Rheumatoid Factor Positive‡ | 33.3 (41) | 76.9 (70) |
‡
Proportions are significantly different using a Chi-Square test statistic with p < .05