TABLE 2.
General characteristics of study participants across tertiles (T) of dietary pattern scores
| Variables | Western dietary pattern score | p | Healthy dietary pattern score | p | Traditional dietary pattern score | p | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T 1 (lowest) (n = 50) | T 2 (n = 50) | T 3 (highest) (n = 50) | T 1 (lowest) (n = 50) | T 2 (n = 50) | T 3 (highest) (n = 50) | T 1 (lowest) (n = 50) | T 2 (n = 50) | T 3 (highest) (n = 50) | ||||
| Female; n (%) | 43 (86) | 45 (90) | 45 (90) | .93 | 43 (86) | 44 (88) | 46 (92) | .91 | 44 (88) | 47 (94) | 42 (84) | .17 |
| Age; years | 44.4 ± 10.9 | 37.7 ± 9.4* | 43.1 ± 10.2 & | .003 | 44.1 ± 10.6 | 38.8 ± 10.6* | 42.2 ± 9.8 & | .035 | 44.5 ± 11 | 38.8 ± 9.5* | 41.7 ± 10.5 & | .026 |
| Weight; Kg | 64.13 ± 9.98 | 63.12 ± 8.39 | 64.35 ± 9.85 | .78 | 62.09 ± 8.29 | 63.22 ± 8.74 | 66.21 ± 10.62 | .075 | 64.13 ± 9.98 | 63.13 ± 8.39 | 64.35 ± 9.85 | .78 |
| BMI; kg/m2 | 23.9 ± 2.9 | 25.6 ± 2.9* | 26.9 ± 2.6*& | .012 | 27.2 ± 3.6 | 25.5 ± 2.8* | 23.9 ± 2.8*& | .006 | 25.1 ± 3.5 | 24.7 ± 3.1 | 24.1 ± 2.9 | .26 |
| Waist circumference; cm | 83.7 ± 5.5 | 86.9 ± 6.6* | 88.2 ± 6.6*& | .039 | 88.6 ± 8 | 86.3 ± 8.2* | 83.1 ± 11.9*& | .031 | 87.3 ± 8.2 | 83.5 ± 6.6 | 88.1 ± 12.5 | .055 |
| Physical activity; MET‐hr/week | 7.26 ± 3.59 | 5.51 ± 2.74 | 6.17 ± 4.59 | .55 | 5.15 ± 3.75 | 6.06 ± 2.48 | 7.76 ± 4.53 | .09 | 5.9 ± 3.84 | 5.87 ± 3.25 | 6.17 ± 4.07 | .08 |
| Sleep duration; hr/day | 7.18 ± 1.56 | 7.15 ± 1.27 | 7.38 ± 1.67 | .70 | 6.71 ± 1.25 | 7.16 ± 1.11 | 7.75 ± 1.84*& | .003 | 7.23 ± 1.62 | 7.52 ± 1.55 | 6.96 ± 1.31 | .17 |
| Time spent sitting; hr/day | 5.21 ± 1.77 | 5.16 ± 2.03 | 5.58 ± 2.44 | .53 | 6.06 ± 2.35 | 5 ± 1.79 | 4.9 ± 1.93*& | .007 | 5.55 ± 2.42 | 5.56 ± 1.98 | 4.86 ± 1.83 | .16 |
| Smoker; n (%) | 9 (18) | 7 (14) | 16 (32) | .08 | 8 (16) | 8(16) | 16 (32) | .09 | 13 (26) | 12 (24) | 7 (14) | .25 |
| Current supplement use; n (%) | 23(46) | 20(40) | 22 (44) | .78 | 20(40) | 24(48) | 21(42) | .71 | 16 (32) | 28 (56) | 20 (40) | .056 |
| Family history of RA; n (%) | 11 (22) | 11 (22) | 18 (36) | .23 | 12 (24) | 11(22) | 17(34) | .40 | 14 (28) | 11(22) | 15(30) | .66 |
| University education; n (%) | 17 (34) | 11 (22) | 19 (38) | .21 | 16 (32) | 16 (32) | 15 (30) | .93 | 17 (34) | 13 (26) | 17 (34) | .60 |
Abbreviaions: BMI, body mass index; MET, metabolic equivalents; RA, rheumatoid arthritis.
Data are presented as means ± SD or frequencies. p values were obtained from ANOVA with Tukey's test as post hoc pairwise comparison for quantitative variables and chi‐square test for qualitative variables.
*
p < .05, significant difference from the first tertile (T 1)
&
p < .05, significant difference from the second tertile (T 2).