Table 1.
Baseline characteristics of study participants
| Characteristic | Healthy controls (n = 48) | Autoimmune disease patients (n = 48) | p value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age, yr | 50.0 (43.3–58.8) | 49.0 (42.3–58.0) | 0.51 |
| Female sex | 28 (58.3) | 38 (79.2) | 0.02 |
| Distribution of disease | |||
| RA | 35 (72.9) | ||
| SLE | 7 (14.6) | ||
| Dermatomyositis | 3 (6.3) | ||
| Othersa | 3 (6.3) | ||
| Treatment | NA | ||
| Prednisolone | 27 (56.3) | ||
| Dose, mg/day | 5.0 (1.25–15.0) | ||
| Methotrexate | 36 (75.0) | ||
| Dose, mg/week | 15.0 (10.0–15.0) | ||
| Hydroxychloroquine | 6 (12.5) | ||
| Mycophenolate mofetile | 3 (6.3) | ||
| Biologic agent | 9 (18.8) | ||
| Tocilizumab | 3 (8.6) | ||
| Golimumab | 3 (8.6) | ||
| Tofacitinib | 2 (5.7) | ||
| Infliximab | 1 (2.9) | ||
| Disease duration, mo | NA | 36 (11–70) | |
Values are presented as median (interquartile range) or number (%).
RA, rheumatoid arthritis; SLE, systemic lupus erythematous; NA, not available.
a
Others include one adult onset still’s disease, one polymyalgia rheumatic, and one mixed connective tissue disease.