Table 2.

Description of the characteristics of the 100 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients

Age, mean ± SD years	57.7 ± 15.4
Female sex, n (%)	61 (61.0)
Symptom duration, median (IQR) weeks	12.0 (8.0 to 25.0)
Fulfillment of ACR 1987 criteria for RA, n (%)	81/97 (83.5)
RF positive, n (%)	61 (61.0)
Anti-CCP positive, n (%)	58/98 (59.2)
DAS28, mean ± SD	4.9 ± 1.1
No. of swollen joints (28 assessed), median (IQR)	7.0 (4.0 to 12.0)
No. of tender joints (28 assessed), median (IQR)	4.0 (2.0 to 10.0)
ESR, median (IQR) mm/hour	31.2 ± 18.5
CRP, median (IQR) mg/litre	11.5 (5.0 to 30.8)
Patient's assessment of general health, mean ± SD (0 to 100 VAS)	54.0 ± 22.5
Patient's assessment of pain, mean ± SD (0 to 100 VAS)	51.7 ± 23.0
HAQ score, mean ± SD	0.9 ± 0.7
SF-36 PCS score, mean ± SD	38.3 ± 10.0
SF-36 MCS score, mean ± SD	47.8 ± 12.6

ACR, American College of Rheumatology; anti-CCP, anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide; CRP, C-reactive protein; DAS28, Disease Activity Score in 28 joints; ESR, erythrocyte sedimentation rate; HAQ, Health Assessment Questionnaire; IQR, interquartile range; MCS, mental component summary; PCS, physical component summary; RF, rheumatoid factor; SD, standard deviation; SF-36, Short-Form 36 health survey; VAS, visual analog scale