Table 2.
Patient characteristics
| Female RA patients (n = 6) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Day 1: no VNS | Day 2: VNS | |
| Age (years) | 44 (38–52) | |
| BMI (kg/m2) | 22.5 (21.7–22.9) | |
| RR systolic | 115 (109–117) | 118 (113–127) |
| RR diastolic | 71 (66–75) | 75 (71–80) |
| Heart rate | 76 (70–78) | 74 (73–83) |
| Alcohol use: n (%) | 3 (50) | |
| Current smoker: n (%) | 0 (0) | |
| Previous smoker: n (%) | 1 (17) | |
| RF positive: n (%) | 4 (67) | |
| ACPA positive: n (%) | 2 (33) | |
| Disease duration (months) | 130 (74–165) | |
| VAS GDA (mm) | 33 (26–40) | 35 (25–56) |
| TJC28 (n) | 7 (2–12) | 9 (2–12) |
| SJC28 (n) | 3 (1–3) | 3 (2–4) |
| ESR (mm/h) | 13 (10–24) | 8 (4–11) |
| CRP (mg/L) | 10.1 (4.3–16.7) | 4.3 (1.7–15.2) |
| DAS28 | 3.97 (3.23–4.96) | 3.84 (3.28–4.83) |
| NSAIDs: n (%) | 5 (83) | |
| Corticosteroids: n (%) | 4 (67) | |
| Methotrexate: n (%) | 6 (100) | |
| Adalimumab: n (%) | 1 (17) | |
Data presented as median (interquartile range) or number (percentage)
VNS vagus nerve stimulation, BMI body mass index, RF rheumatoid factor, ACPA anti-citrullinated protein antibodies, VAS GDA visual analogue scale (range 0–100 mm) global disease activity, TJC28 tender joint count of 28 joints, SJC28 swollen joint count of 28 joints, ESR erythrocyte sedimentation rate, CRP C-reactive protein, HCQ hydroxychloroquine, NA not applicable