Table 2.
Baseline demographic and disease characteristics of the ARAD RA cohort (n = 624)*.
| Mean (SD) | |
|---|---|
| Age (years) | 57.0 (12.5) |
| Duration of RA (symptoms), years | 16.0 (11.0) |
| Duration of RA (since diagnosis), years | 14.4 (10.2) |
| ESR (mm/hr) | 35.8 (26.8) |
| CRP (mg/L) | 33.7 (38.2) |
| PBS tender/swollen joint count# | 23 (12) |
| Overall pain due to arthritis in last week (0–100) | 44.0 (25.8) |
| Overall patient global impression of disease activity in the last week (0–100) | 42.0 (25.3) |
| Mean (SD) HAQ score (0–3, 0 no = disability) (n = 617) | 1.8 (0.72) |
| Mean (SD) AQoL score (0-1, 1 = full health) (n = 613) | 0.42 (0.24) |
| SF-36 score (0–100, 100 = perfect health) (n = 583) | |
| Physical component | 28.05 (9.88) |
| Mental component | 43.66 (12.57) |
| EuroQoL (UK weights) (0-1, 1 = perfect health) (n = 592) | 0.46 (0.32) |
|
| |
| N (%) | |
|
| |
| Female | 449 (72) |
| Smoking history | |
| Current | 101 (16.2) |
| Past | 266 (42.6) |
| Never | 257 (41.2) |
|
| |
| Alcohol consumption | |
| Never | 178 (28.9) |
| Sometimes | 373 (60.7) |
| Every day | 64 (10.4) |
|
| |
| At least one concomitant DMARDs | 572 (91.7) |
| Methotrexate (oral or IM) | 375 (60.1) |
| Salazopyrin | 73 (11.7) |
| Leflunomide | 166 (26.6) |
| Hydroxychloroquine | 115 (18.4) |
| Cyclosporin | 16 (2.6) |
| Azathioprine | 9 (1.4) |
| Gold | 8 (1.3) |
| Penicillamine | 4 (0.6) |
|
| |
| Currently taking prednisolone or prednisone | 420 (67.3) |
*n slightly different for some variables.
#Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) definition (see Table 1).