Table 1.
Characteristics of AS and PsA patients
| Characteristics | AS (n = 641) | PsA (n = 1312) | Difference (95% CI) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Female, % (n) | 24 (154) | 51.8 (679) | 27.7 (23.3, 31.9)* |
| BMI, mean (s.d.) | 28 (5.6) | 30.5 (6.7) | 2.5 (1.9, 3.1)* |
| Townsend deprivation score, mean (s.d.)† | 3.1 (1.5) | 3.0 (1.5) | 0.1 (−0.2, 0) |
| Age at diagnosis, years, mean (s.d.) | 42.6 (14) | 46.5 (13.7) | 3.9 (2.6, 5.2)* |
| Presenting back (AS) or peripheral (PsA) pain pre-diagnosis, % (n) | 93 (596) | 88.6 (1162) | 4.4 (1.7, 6.9)* |
| Time from back/peripheral pain to diagnosis, years, mean (s.d.) | 7.9 (5.5) | 7.7 (5.6) | 0.2 (−0.3, 0.7) |
| Alcohol use, % (n) | 86 (551) | 87.7 (1150) | 1.7 (−1.4, 5.0) |
| Smoker, % (n) | 11.4 (73) | 9.1 (119) | 2.3 (−5.4, 0.5) |
| GP visits per annum, mean (s.d.) | 50.6 (32.5) | 58.7 (34.4) | 8.1 (4.9, 11.3)* |
| Existing diabetes, % (n) | 3.7 (24) | 4.5 (59) | 0.8 (−1.3, 2.5) |
| Existing cardiovascular disease, % (n) | 3.7 (24) | 3.3 (43) | 0.4 (−2.4, 1.2) |
| Existing hyperlipidaemia, % (n) | 5 (32) | 6.3 (83) | 1.3 (−1.0, 3.4) |
| Existing hypertension, % (n) | 19.2 (123) | 23.6 (309) | 4.4 (0.5, 8.1) |
| Hospitalised for serious infections, % (n) | 5.9 (38) | 6.9 (90) | 0.9 (−1.5, 3.1) |
| Issued disability living allowance, % (n) | 27.5 (176) | 18.3 (240) | 9.2 (5.2, 13.3)* |
| Sick notes issued by GP, % (n) | 16.2 (104) | 9.6 (126) | 6.6 (3.5, 10)* |
| Any use of NSAIDs in GP records, % (n) | 96.7 (620) | 94.3 (1237) | 2.4 (0.4, 4.2)* |
| Any use of DMARDs in GP records, % (n) | 41.2 (264) | 82.3 (1018) | 36.4 (31.9, 40.7)* |
| Prescribed a biologic, % (n) | 46 (295) | 28.8 (378) | 17.2 (12.6, 21.8)* |
| Characteristics of patients administered biologics | AS (n = 295) | PsA (n = 378) | |
| GP involvement within 1 year pre-biologic initiation, mean (s.d.)‡ | 69.7 (143.5) | 75.1 (167.4) | 5.4 (−18.6, 29.4) |
| GP involvement within 1 year post-biologic initiation, mean (s.d.) ‡ | 8.8 (26.3) | 10.7 (36.3) | 1.9 (−3.0, 6.8) |
| GP involvement per annum, mean (s.d.) ‡ | 51.6 (31.2) | 60.6 (31.8) | 9 (4.2, 13.8)* |
| Visits to rheumatologist within 1 year pre-biologic, mean (s.d.) | 1.0 (0.2) | 1.0 (0.2) | 0 (−0.0, 0.0) |
| Visits to rheumatologist within 1 year post-biologic, mean (s.d.) | 1.0 (0.2) | 1.0 (0.2) | 0 (−0.0, 0.0) |
| NSAIDs pre-biologic use, % (n) | 81 (239) | 78.6 (297) | 2.5(3.8, 8.5)* |
| Number of NSAIDs used pre-biologic, mean (s.d.) | 11.3 (3.1) | 11.5 (3.1) | 0.2 (−0.3, 0.7) |
| DMARDs pre-biologic use, % (n) | 16.9 (50) | 35.7 (135) | 18.8 (12.1, 25)* |
| Number of DMARDs used pre-biologic, mean (s.d.) | 2.5 (1.8) | 3.0 (1.5) | 0.5 (0.3, 0.8)* |
| Time to biologic from diagnosis, years, mean (s.d.) | 6.3 (4.8) | 6.2 (4.6) | 0.1 (−0.8, 0.6) |
| Biologic duration, years, mean (s.d.) | 2.9 (2.7) | 2.5 (2.7) | 0.4 (−0.1, 0.8) |
| Biologic treatment stop/change/fail, % (n) | 23.1 (68) | 22.2 (84) | 0.9 (−5.5, 7.3) |
*
P < 0.05. †Where 1 = most affluent and 5 = most deprived. ‡Involvement includes face-to-face visit, telephone consultation, prescription and administration (request for tests, letters).