Table 1.
Demographic and clinical characteristics of participants (N = 95)
| Variable | N (%) |
|---|---|
| Age in years (M ± SD) | 50.91 ± 13.80 |
| Age range in years | |
| 24–33 | 13 (13.7) |
| 34–43 | 16 (16.8) |
| 44–53 | 23 (24.2) |
| 54–63 | 23 (24.2) |
| 64–73 | 15 (15.8) |
| 74–82 | 5 (5.3) |
| Marital status | |
| Married/cohabited | 67 (70.5) |
| Single | 28 (29.5) |
| Education | |
| Elementary school education | 7 (7.4) |
| Basic vocational education | 12 (12.6) |
| High school education | 44 (46.3) |
| University education | 32 (33.7) |
| Time since diagnosis in years (M ± SD) | 11.34 ± 10.24 |
| Range of time since diagnosis in years | |
| 0.5–10 | 53 (55.85) |
| 11–20 | 23 (24.2) |
| 21–30 | 15 (15.8) |
| 31–40 | 3 (3.2) |
| 41–42 | 1 (1.0) |
| Number of previous hospitalizations due to RA | |
| 0 | 3 (3.2) |
| 1 | 29 (30.5) |
| 2 | 14 (14.7) |
| 3 | 9 (9.5) |
| 4 and more | 36 (42.7) |
| Missing data | 9 (9.5) |
| Number of disease flares | |
| 1 | 17 (17.9) |
| 2 | 19 (20) |
| 3 | 4 (4.2) |
| 4 | 11 (11.6) |
| 5 | 16 (16.8) |
| 6 | 19 (20) |
| 7 | 9 (9.5) |
| Past surgical intervention due to RA | |
| Yes | 31 (32.6) |
| No | 65 (68.4) |
| Classification of global functional status [72] | |
| Class I. Completely able to perform usual activities of daily living (self-care, vocational, and avocational) | 4 (4.2) |
| Class II. Able to perform usual self-care and vocational activities, but limited in avocational activities | 29 (30.5) |
| Class III. Able to perform usual self-care activities, but limited in vocational and avocational activities | 48 (50.5) |
| Class IV. Limited in ability to perform usual self-care, vocational, and avocational activities | 13 (13.7) |
| Missing data | 1 (1.1) |
| Intake of analgesic medication during time of the study | |
| Yes | 79 (83.2) |
| No | 16 (16.8) |
Note M mean, SD standard deviation