Table 1.
Demographics and baseline characteristics
| Item | Anthroposophic group | Conventional group | p-value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Female gender, n (%) | 122/129 (94.6%) | 85/122 (69.7%) | <0.0001 |
| Age (years) | 47.58±11.25 | 50.65±12.15 | 0.0205 |
| Duration of rheumatoid arthritis (months) | 15.10±9.21 | 10.84±9.17 | <0.0001 |
| <12, n (%) | 54/125 (43.2%) | 78/122 (63.9%) | 0.0014 |
| 12–23, n (%) | 45/125 (36.0%) | 27/122 (22.1%) | |
| 24–35, n (%) | 26/125 (20.8%) | 17/122 (13.9%) | |
| Rheumatoid factor (IU/mL) | 137.37±222.44 | 194.82±266.22 | 0.4634 |
| Rheumatoid factor positive (≥20 IU/mL), n (%) | 87 (74.4%) | 80 (65.6%) | 0.1593 |
| C-reactive protein (mg/dL) | 2.59±3.49 | 2.66±4.64 | 0.2584 |
| Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (mm/hour) | 32.72±26.73 | 35.44±25.42 | 0.2221 |
| Rheumatoid Arthritis VAS (patient ratings, 0–400) | 193.87±87.16 | 238.30±93.36 | <0.0001 |
| Joint inflammation in past 3 months (VAS, 0–100) | 57.83±26.55 | 77.73±19.78 | <0.0001 |
| Joint swelling today (VAS, 0–100) | 46.58±25.33 | 52.91±29.72 | 0.0916 |
| Joint pain today (VAS, 0–100) | 46.24±25.90 | 55.10±30.85 | 0.0116 |
| Joint stiffness today (VAS, 0–100) | 42.36±24.98 | 52.56±29.84 | 0.0067 |
| Joint tenderness (Ritchie Index, 0–78) | 13.87±7.60 | 12.56±9.97 | 0.0268 |
| Number of swollen joints | 15.22±8.37 | 14.00±7.11 | 0.4242 |
| Hanover Functional Ability Questionnaire | 18.02±4.26 | 16.70±5.10 | 0.0683 |
| Radiological signs of joint destruction (Ratingen Score) | 2.40±3.90 | 2.17±4.66 | 0.1059 |
| Patient self-rating of current health status (0–100) | 54.72±23.40 | 56.20±26.15 | 0.6408 |
| Patient satisfaction with current health status (0–100) | 59.23±24.74 | 54.43±29.18 | 0.1647 |
| Erosive arthritis with Ratingen Score ≥1, n (%) | 67/123 (54.5%) | 51/119 (42.3%) | 0.0737 |
| Corticosteroid use, n (%) | 33/129 (25.6%) | 59/122 (48.4%) | 0.0003 |
Note: Data are presented as mean ± SD, unless otherwise stated.
Abbreviation: VAS, visual analog scales.