Baseline characteristics and laboratory test results
We screened 3552 participants in total with exclusion of 106 patients who did not fulfill the diagnostic criteria of RA and 72 patients who had been receiving treatments with infections and severe diseases. Baseline characteristics of the 3374 patients were listed in Table 1 by sex. The ratio of female versus male was 4:1. The median age of male was 62.49 (IQR: 55.63 to 68.50), and female was 58.35 (IQR: 49.39 to 64.87). In male, the percentages of normal and overweight were 64.4% and 27.1% respectively. In female, the percentages of normal and overweight were 73.3% and 16.7% respectively. The obesity population in male RA patients was significantly larger than female patients (P < 0.05). In male, 11.4% had smoking history while female only 0.1% had smoking history. The median duration of RA in male was 4.05 years (IQR: 1.53 to 9.34) and female was 6.47 years (IQR: 2.48 to 12.55). Based on the laboratory test, abnormal data of blood, urine, and liver and renal function tests were observed in 1890 (56.0%) patients.
Table 1
Baseline characteristics of participants
Baseline Characteristics
|
Male
(N = 615, 18.2%)
|
Female
(N = 2759, 81.8%)
|
P values
|
Age, years*
|
62.49 [55.63, 68.50]
|
58.35 [49.39, 64.87]
|
< 0.001
|
BMI, N (%)
|
|
|
< 0.001
|
Underweight
|
36 (5.9)
|
211 (7.7)
|
|
Normal
|
390 (64.4)
|
2009 (73.3)
|
|
Overweight
|
164 (27.1)
|
458 (16.7)
|
|
Obesity
|
16 (2.6)
|
62 (2.3)
|
|
Family history of autoimmune diseases, N (%)
|
581 (94.6)
|
2605 (94.5)
|
0.943
|
Non-smokers, N (%)
|
544 (88.6)
|
2756 (99.9)
|
< 0.001
|
Alcohol history, N (%)
|
545 (88.8)
|
2746 (99.6)
|
< 0.001
|
Other diseases, N (%)
Hypertension
Diabetes
|
60 (9.8)
20 (3.3)
|
282 (10.2)
61 (2.2)
|
0.786
0.168
|
Duration of RA, years*
|
4.05 [1.53, 9.34]
|
6.47 [2.48, 12.55]
|
< 0.001
|
*: Median with interquartile range.
Differences of clinical manifestation between sex
Univariate regression models showed that sex was not significantly associated with the levels of ACR functions of joints, swollen and tender joints count 28, and duration of morning stiffness. After adjusting for age and BMI, the adjusted OR associated with female vs male was 1.42 (95% CI: 1.07 to 1.89) for level 3 of the ACR functions, compared to level 1 (Table 2).
Table 2
Associations of different clinical manifestations with sex
Variables
|
Male
(N = 615)
|
Female
(N = 2759)
|
Crude OR
(95% CI)
|
Adjusted OR
(95% CI)$
|
Variables
|
Male
(N = 615)
|
Female
(N = 2759)
|
Univariable β
(95% CI)
|
Multivariable β
(95% CI)$
|
Functions of Joints
|
|
|
|
|
Swollen joint count 28
|
2.00 [1.00, 6.00]
|
2.00 [1.00, 6.00]
|
0.04 (-0.42, 0.50)
|
0.23 (-0.24, 0.71)
|
Level 1
|
220 (35.9)
|
999 (36.3)
|
Reference
|
Reference
|
Level 2
|
274 (44.8)
|
1168 (42.4)
|
0.94 (0.77, 1.14)
|
1.03 (0.84, 1.26)
|
Tender joint count 28
|
6.00 [2.00, 10.00]
|
5.00 [2.00, 10.00]
|
-0.10 (-0.67, 0.47)
|
0.2 (-0.38, 0.78)
|
Level 3
|
84 (13.7)
|
458 (16.6)
|
1.20 (0.91, 1.58)
|
1.42 (1.07, 1.89)*
|
Level 4
|
34 (5.6)
|
127 (4.6)
|
0.82 (0.55, 1.23)
|
1.02 (0.67, 1.56)
|
VAS scores
|
4.00 [3.00, 6.00]
|
4.00 [3.00, 6.00]
|
0.09 (-0.1, 0.27)
|
0.20 (0.01, 0.39)*
|
Morning stiffness
|
|
|
|
|
Less than 30 mins
|
306 (50.2)
|
1437 (52.2)
|
Reference
|
Reference
|
ESR
|
25.00 [12.00, 49.00]
|
28.00 [16.00, 47.00]
|
1.56 (-1.04, 4.16)
|
2.44 (-0.22, 5.10)
|
30 to 60 mins
|
135 (22.1)
|
642 (23.3)
|
1.01 (0.81, 1.27)
|
1.06 (0.84, 1.34)
|
60 to 120 mins
|
119 (19.5)
|
484 (17.6)
|
0.87 (0.68, 1.10)
|
0.92 (0.72, 1.17)
|
CRP
|
7.08 [1.78, 23.80]
|
3.73 [0.88, 14.10]
|
-6.86 (-9.15, -4.57)
|
-6.81 (-9.16, -4.47)***
|
120 to 180 mins
|
37 (6.2)
|
133 (4.8)
|
0.75 (0.51, 1.09)
|
0.77 (0.51, 1.14)
|
More than 180
|
13 (2.1)
|
58 (2.1)
|
0.95 (0.51, 1.75)
|
1.04 (0.56, 1.94)
|
RF
|
143.00 [47.35, 385.00]
|
123.30 [46.60, 247.00]
|
-73.63 (-149.22, 1.96)
|
-58.45 (-136.71, 19.81)
|
DAS 28-ESR
|
|
|
|
|
DAS 28 < 2.6
|
70 (13.2)
|
233 (9.9)
|
Reference
|
Reference
|
Anti-CCP
|
216.00 [59.34, 678.50]
|
274.00 [66.00, 808.50]
|
76.18 (-57.85, 210.21)
|
69.25 (-71.01, 209.50)
|
2.6 < = DAS 28 < 3.2
|
34 (6.4)
|
177 (7.5)
|
1.56 (0.99, 2.46)
|
1.71 (1.06, 2.74)*
|
3.2 < = DAS 28 < 5.1
|
213 (40.1)
|
1008 (42.7)
|
1.42 (1.05, 1.93)*
|
1.62 (1.18, 2.22)***
|
|
|
|
|
|
DAS > = 5.1
|
214 (40.3)
|
944 (40.0)
|
1.33 (0.98, 1.80)
|
1.59 (1.15, 2.18)***
|
|
|
|
|
|
SDAI
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SDAI < = 11
|
80 (15.5)
|
425 (18.9)
|
Reference
|
Reference
|
|
|
|
|
|
11 < SDAI < = 26
|
143 (27.7)
|
770 (34.3)
|
1.01 (0.75, 1.37)
|
1.08 (0.80, 1.47)
|
|
|
|
|
|
SDAI > 26
|
294 (56.9)
|
1053 (46.8)
|
0.67 (0.51, 0.88)***
|
0.75 (0.57, 0.99)*
|
|
|
|
|
|
$: Adjusted for age and BMI; *: P < 0.05; **: P < 0.01; ***: P < 0.001. |
Disease activity scores were also investigated in Table 2. Compared to the reference level of DAS28-ESR, 3.2 < = DAS28-ESR < 5.1 was found significant associated with sex. After adjusting for age and BMI, all higher levels of DAS28-ESR were found significantly associated with sex. For SDAI, only higher level SDAI (> 26) was associated with sex, with both crude and adjusted ORs less than 1. VAS score was also significantly associated with sex after adjustment (Table 2).
Besides the functional scores, we also compared biomarkers ESR, CRP, RF, and anti-CCP between groups. Univariate linear regression showed that sex was negatively associated with CRP (β=-6.86, 95% CI: -9.15 to -4.57). After adjustment for age and BMI, the association remained significant (β=-6.81, 95% CI: -9.16 to -4.47).
Medication utility
The distribution and categories of medication of all participants were listed in Table 3. The most prescribed medications were DMARDs (82.0%), NSAIDs (61.6%), and steroids (32.6%). There were 29 kinds of drugs recorded with 542 combinations among all the patients. Further analysis regarding DMARDs showed that methotrexate was the baseline treatment in the majority patients (1093/3374, 32.4%), and combination with leflunomide (829/3374, 24.6%).
Table 3
Distribution and categories of medication use in all patients
Items
|
N (%)
|
Ratio (Female: Male)
|
RA medication use
1. Steroids
2. NSAIDs
3. DMARDs
(Single use)
(1) Methotrexate (MTX)
(2) Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ)
(3) Leflunomide (LEF)
(4) Sulfasalazine (SSZ)
(Combined use)
(1) MTX and HCQ
(2) MTX and LEF
(3) MTX and SSZ
(4) HCQ and LEF
(5) HCQ and SSZ
(6) LEF and SSZ
(7) MTX and HCQ and LEF
(8) MTX and HCQ and SSZ
(9) MTX and LEF and SSZ
(10) HCQ and LEF and SSZ
(11) MTX and HCQ and LEF & SSZ
|
1101 (32.63%)
2078 (61.59%)
2765 (81.95%)
1093 (32.39%)
113 (3.35%)
252 (7.57%)
27 (0.80%)
184 (5.45%)
829 (24.57%)
71 (2.10%)
48 (1.42%)
18 (0.53%)
14 (0.41%)
65 (1.93%)
31 (0.92%)
17 (0.50%)
2 (0.06%)
1 (0.03%)
|
4.23: 1
4.34: 1
4.68: 1
|
Comorbid diseases with RA and the differences between sex
The most commonly comorbid diseases with RA in this study were hypertension and diabetes, which accounted for 10% and 3% among all the RA patients, respectively. Compared to RA patients without hypertension, patients with hypertension were significantly associated with ACR functions of joints, swollen and tender joints count 28, and biomarkers of ESR and CRP for both unadjusted and adjusted models (Table 4). For comparison between RA patients with and without diabetes, there were statistically significant associations between diabetes and ACR functions of joints, swollen and tender joints count 28, VAS scores, and biomarker of ESR. After adjusting for age, sex, and BMI, most of the associations remained unchanged, except for tender joints count 28 (Table 5).
Table 4
Associations of different clinical manifestations with or without hypertension
Variables
|
Without
(N = 3032)
|
With
(N = 342)
|
Crude OR
(95% CI)
|
Adjusted OR
(95% CI)$
|
Variables
|
Without
(N = 3032)
|
With
(N = 342)
|
Univariable β
(95% CI)
|
Multivariable β
(95% CI)$
|
Functions of Joints
|
|
|
|
|
Swollen joint count 28
|
2.00 [1.00, 6.00]
|
3.00 [0.00, 8.00]
|
1.20 (0.61, 1.79)***
|
0.98 (0.37, 1.59)***
|
Level 1
|
1138 (37.6)
|
81 (24.0)
|
Reference
|
Reference
|
Level 2
|
1302 (43.0)
|
140 (41.4)
|
1.51 (1.14, 2.01)***
|
1.37 (1.02, 1.84)*
|
Tender joint count 28
|
5.00 [2.00, 10.00]
|
6.00 [2.00, 14.00]
|
1.63 (0.90, 2.36)***
|
1.26 (0.51, 2.02)***
|
Level 3
|
457 (15.1)
|
85 (25.1)
|
2.61 (1.89, 3.61)***
|
2.08 (1.49, 2.92)***
|
Level 4
|
129 (4.3)
|
32 (9.5)
|
3.49 (2.23, 5.45)***
|
2.78 (1.74, 4.44)***
|
VAS scores
|
4.00 [3.00, 6.00]
|
5.00 [3.00, 6.00]
|
0.30 (0.06, 0.54)*
|
0.16 (-0.08, 0.41)
|
Morning stiffness
|
|
|
|
|
Less than 30 mins
|
1568 (51.8)
|
175 (51.8)
|
Reference
|
Reference
|
ESR
|
27.00 [15.00, 47.00]
|
35.00 [17.75, 56.25]
|
6.25 (2.95, 9.55)***
|
4.66 (1.26, 8.07)**
|
30 to 60 mins
|
695 (23.0)
|
82 (24.3)
|
1.06 (0.8, 1.39)
|
0.98 (0.73, 1.3)
|
60 to 120 mins
|
551 (18.2)
|
52 (15.4)
|
0.85 (0.61, 1.17)
|
0.75 (0.54, 1.05)
|
CRP
|
4.14 [0.93, 15.32]
|
5.70 [1.60, 18.95]
|
4.92 (1.98, 7.86)***
|
4.99 (1.96, 8.02)***
|
120 to 180 mins
|
150 (5.0)
|
21 (6.2)
|
1.25 (0.77, 2.03)
|
1.23 (0.74, 2.04)
|
More than 180
|
63 (2.1)
|
8 (2.4)
|
1.14 (0.54, 2.41)
|
0.97 (0.45, 2.1)
|
RF
|
122.00 [45.25, 253.50]
|
184.45 [54.42, 387.75]
|
100.89 (10.19, 191.6)*
|
73.32 (-23.5, 170.13)
|
DAS 28-ESR
|
|
|
|
|
DAS 28 < 2.6
|
280 (10.8)
|
23 (7.7)
|
Reference
|
Reference
|
Anti-CCP
|
275.00 [63.45, 817.02]
|
180.00 [91.34, 656.50]
|
-108.9 (-265.23, 47.42)
|
-80.53 (-248.41, 87.35)
|
2.6 < = DAS 28 < 3.2
|
187 (7.2)
|
24 (8.1)
|
1.56 (0.86, 2.85)
|
1.49 (0.80, 2.77)
|
3.2 < = DAS 28 < 5.1
|
1122 (43.2)
|
99 (33.2)
|
1.07 (0.67, 1.72)
|
0.87 (0.54, 1.42)
|
|
|
|
|
|
DAS > = 5.1
|
1006 (38.8)
|
152 (51.0)
|
1.84 (1.16, 2.91)**
|
1.4 (0.87, 2.24)
|
|
|
|
|
|
SDAI
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SDAI < = 11
|
455 (18.4)
|
50 (17.5)
|
Reference
|
Reference
|
|
|
|
|
|
11 < SDAI < = 26
|
849 (34.2)
|
64 (22.4)
|
0.69 (0.47, 1.01)
|
0.61 (0.41, 0.91)*
|
|
|
|
|
|
SDAI > 26
|
1175 (47.4)
|
172 (60.1)
|
1.33 (0.95, 1.86)
|
1.15 (0.81, 1.63)
|
|
|
|
|
|
$: Adjusted for sex, age and BMI;*: P < 0.05; **: P < 0.01; ***: P < 0.001. |
Table 5
Associations of different clinical manifestations with or without diabetes
Variables
|
Without
(N = 3293)
|
With
(N = 81)
|
Crude OR
(95% CI)
|
Adjusted OR
(95% CI)$
|
Variables
|
Without
(N = 3293)
|
With
(N = 81)
|
Univariable β
(95% CI)
|
Multivariable β
(95% CI)$
|
Functions of Joints
|
|
|
|
|
Swollen joint count 28
|
2.00 [1.00, 6.00]
|
4.00 [0.00, 9.75]
|
1.44 (0.26, 2.62)*
|
1.23 (0.05, 2.41)*
|
Level 1
|
1207 (36.7)
|
12 (15.4)
|
Reference
|
Reference
|
Level 2
|
1405 (42.8)
|
37 (47.4)
|
2.65 (1.38, 5.10)***
|
2.43 (1.26, 4.70)**
|
Tender joint count 28
|
5.00 [2.00, 10.00]
|
8.50 [2.00, 13.75]
|
1.59 (0.13, 3.05)*
|
1.28 (-0.18, 2.73)
|
Level 3
|
522 (15.9)
|
20 (25.6)
|
3.85 (1.87, 7.94)***
|
3.33 (1.60, 6.91)***
|
Level 4
|
152 (4.6)
|
9 (11.5)
|
5.96 (2.47, 14.37)***
|
4.96 (2.04, 12.06)***
|
VAS scores
|
4.00 [3.00, 6.00]
|
5.00 [3.00, 7.00]
|
0.6 (0.12, 1.07)*
|
0.51 (0.04, 0.99)*
|
Morning stiffness
|
|
|
|
|
Less than 30 mins
|
1707 (51.9)
|
36 (46.2)
|
Reference
|
Reference
|
ESR
|
28.00 [15.00, 47.00]
|
35.00 [15.00, 51.75]
|
5.07 (-1.31, 11.45)
|
3.88 (-2.5, 10.25)
|
30 to 60 mins
|
756 (23.0)
|
21 (26.9)
|
1.32 (0.76, 2.27)
|
1.26 (0.73, 2.18)
|
60 to 120 mins
|
588 (17.9)
|
15 (19.2)
|
1.21 (0.66, 2.23)
|
1.12 (0.60, 2.06)
|
CRP
|
4.34 [1.02, 15.87]
|
5.99 [1.57, 26.84]
|
7.05 (1.38, 12.73)*
|
6.22 (0.57, 11.87)*
|
120 to 180 mins
|
166 (5.1)
|
5 (6.4)
|
1.43 (0.56, 3.70)
|
1.42 (0.55, 3.68)
|
More than 180
|
70 (2.1)
|
1 (1.3)
|
0.68 (0.09, 5.01)
|
0.57 (0.08, 4.24)
|
RF
|
126.00 [46.20, 274.50]
|
215.00 [83.23, 343.37]
|
15.78 (-164.5, 196.06)
|
-20.97 (-203.12, 161.19)
|
DAS 28-ESR
|
|
|
|
|
DAS 28 < 2.6
|
294 (10.4)
|
9 (12.5)
|
Reference
|
Reference
|
Anti-CCP
|
260.63 [66.50, 763.75]
|
309.03 [34.10, 898.80]
|
1.42 (-267.32, 270.16)
|
20.54 (-253.16, 294.24)
|
2.6 < = DAS 28 < 3.2
|
209 (7.4)
|
2 (2.8)
|
0.31 (0.07, 1.46)
|
0.31 (0.07, 1.46)
|
3.2 < = DAS 28 < 5.1
|
1198 (42.5)
|
23 (31.9)
|
0.63 (0.29, 1.37)
|
0.57 (0.26, 1.25)
|
|
|
|
|
|
DAS > = 5.1
|
1120 (39.7)
|
38 (52.8)
|
1.11 (0.53, 2.32)
|
0.97 (0.46, 2.04)
|
|
|
|
|
|
SDAI
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SDAI < = 11
|
491 (18.2)
|
14 (20.0)
|
Reference
|
Reference
|
|
|
|
|
|
11 < SDAI < = 26
|
901 (33.4)
|
12 (17.1)
|
0.47 (0.21, 1.02)
|
0.44 (0.2, 0.96)*
|
|
|
|
|
|
SDAI > 26
|
1303 (48.3)
|
44 (62.9)
|
1.18 (0.64, 2.18)
|
1.04 (0.56, 1.92)
|
|
|
|
|
|
$: Adjusted for sex, age and BMI;*: P < 0.05; **: P < 0.01; ***: P < 0.001. |
Subgroup analyses for RA patients with hypertension and diabetes were also conducted to test the sex difference. For RA patients with hypertension, significant association was found only between sex and CRP after adjustment for age and BMI (Table 6). In RA patients with diabetes, sex was not significantly associated with most clinical manifestations, except a higher OR was found for level 2 of ACR functions of joints (Table 7).
Table 6
Associations of different clinical manifestations with sex among hypertension patients
Variables
|
Male
(N = 60)
|
Female
(N = 282)
|
Crude OR
(95% CI)
|
Adjusted OR
(95% CI)$
|
Variables
|
Male
(N = 60)
|
Female
(N = 282)
|
Univariable β
(95% CI)
|
Multivariable β
(95% CI)$
|
Functions of Joints
|
|
|
|
|
Swollen joint count 28
|
4.00 [0.00, 9.50]
|
3.00 [0.00, 8.00]
|
-0.03 (-1.82, 1.76)
|
-0.10 (-1.96, 1.77)
|
Level 1
|
13 (22.4)
|
68 (24.3)
|
Reference
|
Reference
|
Level 2
|
25 (43.1)
|
115 (41.1)
|
0.88 (0.42, 1.83)
|
0.88 (0.41, 1.87)
|
Tender joint count 28
|
6.00 [2.00, 14.00]
|
7.00 [2.00, 13.25]
|
0.07 (-2.01, 2.15)
|
0.29 (-1.88, 2.45)
|
Level 3
|
11 (19.0)
|
74 (26.4)
|
1.29 (0.54, 3.06)
|
1.21 (0.50, 2.95)
|
Level 4
|
9 (15.5)
|
23 (8.2)
|
0.49 (0.18, 1.29)
|
0.56 (0.20, 1.56)
|
VAS scores
|
5.00 [3.12, 7.00]
|
5.00 [3.00, 6.00]
|
-0.50 (-1.16, 0.16)
|
-0.33 (-1.00, 0.35)
|
Morning stiffness
|
|
|
|
|
Less than 30 mins
|
25 (43.1)
|
150 (53.6)
|
Reference
|
Reference
|
ESR
|
36.00 [14.00, 68.50]
|
34.50 [18.00, 54.25]
|
-3.07 (-12.29, 6.16)
|
-2.79 (-12.46, 6.88)
|
30 to 60 mins
|
15 (25.9)
|
67 (23.9)
|
0.74 (0.37, 1.5)
|
0.72 (0.35, 1.46)
|
60 to 120 mins
|
13 (22.4)
|
39 (13.9)
|
0.50 (0.23, 1.07)
|
0.54 (0.25, 1.19)
|
CRP
|
18.88 [4.05, 36.25]
|
4.98 [1.52, 15.97]
|
-20.39 (-29.62, -11.16)***
|
-21.60 (-31.26, -11.95)***
|
120 to 180 mins
|
4 (6.9)
|
17 (6.1)
|
0.71 (0.22, 2.28)
|
1.01 (0.27, 3.76)
|
More than 180
|
1 (1.7)
|
7 (2.5)
|
1.17 (0.14, 9.90)
|
1.14 (0.13, 9.83)
|
RF
|
222.00 [114.80, 512.00]
|
154.90 [45.55, 333.00]
|
-195.67 (-462.8, 71.46)
|
-244.85 (-530.74, 41.05)
|
DAS 28-ESR
|
|
|
|
|
DAS 28 < 2.6
|
4 (8.3)
|
19 (7.6)
|
Reference
|
Reference
|
Anti-CCP
|
168.00 [88.00, 332.00]
|
200.00 [94.50, 815.56]
|
229.15 (5.67, 452.63)*
|
220.38 (-23.22, 463.99)
|
2.6 < = DAS 28 < 3.2
|
5 (10.4)
|
19 (7.6)
|
0.80 (0.19, 3.45)
|
0.79 (0.18, 3.45)
|
3.2 < = DAS 28 < 5.1
|
11 (22.9)
|
88 (35.2)
|
1.68 (0.48, 5.86)
|
1.63 (0.46, 5.76)
|
|
|
|
|
|
DAS > = 5.1
|
28 (58.3)
|
124 (49.6)
|
0.93 (0.29, 2.96)
|
1.01 (0.31, 3.26)
|
|
|
|
|
|
SDAI
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SDAI < = 11
|
6 (12.8)
|
44 (18.4)
|
Reference
|
Reference
|
|
|
|
|
|
11 < SDAI < = 26
|
6 (12.8)
|
58 (24.3)
|
1.32 (0.40, 4.37)
|
1.39 (0.42, 4.66)
|
|
|
|
|
|
SDAI > 26
|
35 (74.5)
|
137 (57.3)
|
0.53 (0.21, 1.35)
|
0.63 (0.25, 1.63)
|
|
|
|
|
|
$: Adjusted for age and BMI;*: P < 0.05; **: P < 0.01; ***: P < 0.001. |
Table 7
Associations of different clinical manifestations with sex among diabetes patients
Variables
|
Male
(N = 20)
|
Female
(N = 62)
|
Crude OR
(95% CI)
|
Adjusted OR
(95% CI)$
|
Variables
|
Male
(N = 20)
|
Female
(N = 62)
|
Univariable β
(95% CI)
|
Multivariable β
(95% CI)$
|
Functions of Joints
|
|
|
|
|
Swollen joint count 28
|
3.00 [0.00, 7.50]
|
4.00 [1.00, 10.00]
|
0.65 (-2.63, 3.93)
|
0.52 (-2.81, 3.85)
|
Level 1
|
6 (31.6)
|
6 (10.2)
|
Reference
|
Reference
|
Level 2
|
7 (36.8)
|
30 (50.8)
|
4.29 (1.06, 17.36)*
|
4.61 (1.11, 19.15)*
|
Tender joint count 28
|
8.00 [3.50, 11.00]
|
9.00 [2.00, 14.50]
|
0.59 (-2.99, 4.17)
|
0.71 (-2.90, 4.33)
|
Level 3
|
5 (26.3)
|
15 (25.4)
|
3.00 (0.66, 13.69)
|
3.25 (0.68, 15.62)
|
Level 4
|
1 (5.3)
|
8 (13.6)
|
8.00 (0.75, 85.32)
|
7.99 (0.74, 86.01)
|
VAS scores
|
5.00 [3.00, 7.00]
|
5.00 [3.00, 7.00]
|
0.08 (-1.23, 1.40)
|
0.13 (-1.20, 1.46)
|
Morning stiffness
|
|
|
|
|
Less than 30 mins
|
9 (47.4)
|
27 (45.8)
|
Reference
|
Reference
|
ESR
|
18.00 [11.00, 40.00]
|
38.00 [19.00, 57.00]
|
9.37 (-8.11, 26.85)
|
9.33 (-8.48, 27.13)
|
30 to 60 mins
|
5 (26.3)
|
16 (27.1)
|
1.07 (0.30, 3.74)
|
1.04 (0.28, 3.76)
|
60 to 120 mins
|
5 (26.3)
|
10 (16.9)
|
0.67 (0.18, 2.48)
|
0.63 (0.17, 2.39)
|
CRP
|
5.99 [2.46, 23.80]
|
6.19 [1.51, 27.37]
|
3.97 (-14.49, 22.43)
|
4.02 (-14.79, 22.83)
|
120 to 180 mins
|
0 (0.0)
|
5 (8.5)
|
-
|
-
|
More than 180
|
0 (0.0)
|
1 (1.7)
|
-
|
-
|
RF
|
222.00 [124.50, 340.75]
|
154.30 [84.06, 359.95]
|
39.97 (-330.57, 410.5)
|
60.26 (-318.19, 438.72)
|
DAS 28-ESR
|
|
|
|
|
DAS 28 < 2.6
|
3 (17.6)
|
6 (10.9)
|
Reference
|
Reference
|
Anti-CCP
|
332.00 [300.00, 898.80]
|
133.69 [26.56, 967.25]
|
-177.99 (-669.95, 313.96)
|
-143.13 (-664.94, 378.68)
|
2.6 < = DAS 28 < 3.2
|
1 (5.9)
|
1 (1.8)
|
0.50 (0.02, 11.11)
|
0.82 (0.03, 23.98)
|
3.2 < = DAS 28 < 5.1
|
4 (23.5)
|
19 (34.5)
|
2.37 (0.41, 13.75)
|
2.57 (0.43, 15.47)
|
|
|
|
|
|
DAS > = 5.1
|
9 (52.9)
|
29 (52.7)
|
1.61 (0.33, 7.78)
|
1.68 (0.34, 8.30)
|
|
|
|
|
|
SDAI
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SDAI < = 11
|
4 (23.5)
|
10 (18.9)
|
Reference
|
Reference
|
|
|
|
|
|
11 < SDAI < = 26
|
1 (5.9)
|
11 (20.8)
|
4.40 (0.42, 46.26)
|
4.97 (0.45, 54.53)
|
|
|
|
|
|
SDAI > 26
|
12 (70.6)
|
32 (60.4)
|
1.07 (0.28, 4.06)
|
1.07 (0.28, 4.13)
|
|
|
|
|
|
$: Adjusted for age and BMI;*: P < 0.05; **: P < 0.01; ***: P < 0.001. |