Table 1.
Characteristics of the 231 patients with arthralgia at the time of the first questionnaire
| Characteristics | Total (n=231) | Patients who were diagnosed with arthritis during the study (n=79) | Patients who were not diagnosed with arthritis (n=152) |
| Value | Value | Value | |
| Age (years), mean (SD) | 49.6 (11.4) | 47.6 (11.0) | 50.6 (11.6) |
| Gender (female), n (%) | 179 (77.5) | 62 (78.5) | 117 (77.0) |
| Duration of symptoms (months), median (IQR) | 17.1 (11.9–36.4) | 17.1 (9.3–36.1) | 17.1 (12.0–36.5) |
| IgM-RF and ACPA status | |||
| IgM-RF-positive, ACPA-negative, n (%) | 73 (31.6) | 8 (10.1) | 65 (42.8) |
| ACPA-positive, IgM-RF-negative, n (%) | 97 (42.0) | 40 (50.6) | 57 (37.5) |
| IgM-RF and ACPA-positive, n (%) | 50 (21.6) | 31 (39.2) | 19 (12.5) |
| IgM-RF and ACPA-negative, n (%) | 11 (4.8) | 0 (0) | 11 (7.2) |
| ESR (mm/hour), median (IQR) | 12.5 (6.0–20.0) | 12.5 (4.0–21.3) | 12.5 (7.0–20.0) |
| VAS pain (range: 0–100), median (IQR) | 26 (0–50) | 33 (15–60) | 23 (0–48) |
| VAS morning stiffness (range: 0–100), median (IQR) | 14 (0–42) | 26 (0–59) | 0 (0–33) |
| Tender joint count 53 (range: 0–53), median (IQR) | 0 (0–3) | 1 (0–5) | 0 (0–2) |
| HADS depression score (range: 0–21), median (IQR) | 4 (1–7) | 4 (2–8) | 4 (1–7) |
| HADS score ≥8 (suggestive of the presence of depressed mood), n (%) | 54 (23.4) | 20 (25.3) | 34 (22.4) |
| HADS score ≥11 (probable presence of depression), n (%) | 24 (10.4) | 12 (15.2) | 12 (7.9) |
| Everyday Problem Checklist score (range: 0–49), median (IQR) | 10 (6–16) | 10 (6–17) | 10 (6–15) |
| UCL avoidance score (range: 8–32), mean (SD) | 15.7 (3.3) | 15.4 (3.1) | 15.8 (3.4) |
| IRGL perceived support score (range: 5–20), median (IQR) | 15 (12–18) | 15 (14–18) | 15 (12–19) |
| Follow-up time (months), median (IQR) | 33 (13–59) | 12 (5–25) | 48 (23–60) |
ACPA, anticitrullinated protein antibodies; ESR, erythrocyte sedimentation rate; HADS, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale; IRGL, Impact of Rheumatic Diseases on General Health and Lifestyle; RF, rheumatoid factor; UCL, Utrecht Coping List; VAS, Visual Analogue Scale.