Table 1.
Characteristics of 509 subjects from the MCBS (2001 to 2006) included in the rheumatoid arthritis cohort
| N (%) or median (IQR) | |
|---|---|
| Age at beginning of index round, years | 70.1 (IQR 68.0 to 74.9) |
| Female | 366 (71.9%) |
| Race/ethnicity | |
| Non-Hispanic, white | 389 (76.4%) |
| Non-Hispanic, black | 58 (11.4%) |
| Hispanic | 44 (8.6%) |
| Non-Hispanic, Other | 18 (3.5%) |
| Region (at index round) | |
| Northeast | 108 (21.2%) |
| Midwest | 120 (23.6%) |
| South | 176 (34.6%) |
| West | 96 (18.9%) |
| Missing | 9 (1.8%) |
| Years of education at index round | |
| ≤ high school | 343 (67.4%) |
| Beyond high school | 166 (32.6%) |
| Annual income (US dollars) | |
| >50,000 | 26 (5.1%) |
| >30,000 to 50,000 | 103 (20.2%) |
| >20,000 to 30,000 | 110 (21.6%) |
| >15,000 to 20,000 | 64 (12.6%) |
| ≤ 15,000 | 187 (36.7%) |
| Missing | 19 (3.7%) |
| Rheumatology visit during prior year | 120 (23.6%) |
| Number of comorbid conditions during index round | |
| 0 comorbid conditions | 19 (3.7%) |
| 1 comorbid condition | 183 (36.0%) |
| 2+ comorbid conditions | 307 (60.3%) |
| Insurance status | |
| Private insurance | 315 (61.9%) |
| Managed care | 55 (10.8%) |
| Drug insurance | 382 (75.1%) |
All variables were measured at the survey round when individuals entered the rheumatoid arthritis study cohort. MCBS, Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey; IQR, interquartile range.