TABLE 1.
Demographics, clinical characteristics, and resource utilization of the study population (survey 1)
| Total group (N = 90) | Age 55‐64 (n = 30) | Age 65‐74 (n = 30) | Age ≥75 (n = 30) | P value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Demographic characteristics | |||||
| Male | 30 (33.3) | 8 (26.7) | 12 (40.0) | 10 (33.3) | .55 |
| Age, mean (SD) | 69.7 (7.9) | 61.0 (2.4) | 69.6 (2.7) | 78.7 (3.8) | <.01 |
| Marital status | |||||
| Married or living together | 67 (74.4) | 22 (73.3) | 25 (83.3) | 20 (66.7) | .64 |
| Educational level | |||||
| None or elementary school | 6 (6.7) | 3 (10.0) | 2 (6.7) | 1 (3.3) | .30 |
| Secondary school | 58 (64.4) | 15 (50.0) | 20 (66.7) | 23 (76.7) | |
| Academic | 26 (28.9) | 12 (40.0) | 8 (26.7) | 6 (20.0) | |
| Smoking status | |||||
| Smoker | 13 (14.4) | 8 (26.7) | 5 (16.7) | 0 (0.0) | <.01 |
| Never smoker | 29 (32.2) | 7 (23.3) | 5 (16.7) | 17 (56.7) | |
| Alcohol use | |||||
| Never | 19 (21.1) | 7 (23.2) | 4 (13.3) | 8 (26.7) | .48 |
| Clinical characteristics | |||||
| Disease duration, y, median (IQR) | 9.0 (4.0‐20.5) | 5.5 (2.8‐10.5) | 12.5 (6.0‐21.8) | 17.0 (4.0‐25.0) | <.01 |
| Patient global health, 0‐100, median (IQR) | 63.5 (46.9‐74.0) | 59.9 (45.8‐70.3) | 57.8 (48.8‐80.2) | 65.1 (45.1‐74.2) | .83 |
| Polypharmacy reported by rheumatologist, ≥5 medications | 49 (54.4) | 14 (46.7) | 14 (46.7) | 21 (70.0) | .11 |
| Comorbidities, median (IQR) | 2.0 (1.0‐2.0) | 1.0 (1.0‐2.0) | 2.0 (1.0‐2.0) | 2.0 (1.0‐2.3) | .76 |
| Classified as frail on GFI | 38 (42.2) | 13 (43.3) | 12 (40.0) | 13 (43.3) | .96 |
| GFI total score, median (IQR) | 3.0 (1.0‐5.0) | 3.0 (1.0‐5.3) | 3.0 (1.0‐4.3) | 3.0 (1.8‐6.0) | .80 |
| Resource utilization | |||||
| Non‐rheumatologic appointments with specialist within the past 3 months, median (IQR) | 3.0 (1.0‐10.5) | 3.0 (1.0‐11.8) | 2.0 (0.0‐4.0) | 4.5 (2.0‐11.3) | .01 |
| Medical/social services h within the past 3 mo | 15 (17.0) | 3 (10.0) | 2 (6.9) | 10 (34.5) | .01 |
| Biological infusion treatment of at least 4 h during the past 3 mo | 14 (15.7) | 7 (23.3) | 2 (6.9) | 5 (16.7) | .24 |
| Hospitalization during the past 3 mo | 6 (6.7) | 2 (6.7) | 1 (3.3) | 3 (10.0) | .87 |
Data are presented as number (percentage) of patients unless stated otherwise. Two patients had incomplete data.
Abbreviations: GFI, Groningen Frailty Indicator; IQR, interquartile range; SD, standard deviation.