TABLE I.
Characteristics of Medicare Beneficiaries Diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis in 2000 to 2005
| Characteristic | No. of Patients (N = 18,037) |
| Age (yr) | |
| 66-69 | 3468 (19%) |
| 70-74 | 4544 (25%) |
| 75-79 | 4449 (25%) |
| ≥80 | 5576 (31%) |
| Sex | |
| Male | 4390 (24%) |
| Female | 13,647 (76%) |
| Race | |
| White | 15,327 (85%) |
| Black | 1655 (9%) |
| Other | 1055 (6%) |
| Socioeconomic status | |
| Low | 4643 (26%) |
| Middle | 4914 (27%) |
| High | 8480 (47%) |
| Elixhauser comorbidity score quartile | |
| 1 (<5) | 5030 (28%) |
| 2 (5-12) | 5436 (30%) |
| 3 (13-21) | 4142 (23%) |
| 4 (>21) | 3429 (19%) |
| Location of residence | |
| Metropolitan area | 14,650 (81%) |
| Nonmetropolitan area | 3387 (19%) |
| State assistance for Medicare premium | |
| No | 16,233 (90%) |
| Yes | 1804 (10%) |
| Density of rheumatologists where patient resided (per 1 million population) | |
| <10 | 6891 (38%) |
| 10-15 | 7975 (44%) |
| >15 | 3171 (18%) |
| Density of orthopaedic surgeons where patient resided (per 1 million population) | |
| <58 | 5495 (30%) |
| 58-68 | 5861 (32%) |
| >68 | 6681 (37%) |