Demographic variables and measures of disease activity and severity in the study samples. Mean (SD) for continuous variables, % for counts
| All patients (n=394) | 50–70 years (n=271) | |
| Demographic variables | ||
| Age (years) | 54.8 (11.6) | 61.5 (6.2) |
| BMI1-150(kg/m2) | 24.0 (4.2) | 24.5 (4.4) |
| Menopause (%) | 66.0 | 91.9 |
| Menopause age (years) | 47.9 (5.5) | 48.1 (5.4) |
| Oophorectomy (%) | 4.3 | 4.8 |
| Current users of oestradiol (%) | 28.5 | 35.4 |
| Bisphosphonates (%) | 2.6 | 3.8 |
| Smoking | ||
| Non-smoker (%) | 33.0 | 30.5 |
| Previous smoker (%) | 30.5 | 32.4 |
| Current smoker (%) | 36.5 | 37.0 |
| Disease variables | ||
| Disease duration (years) | 13.0 (9.4) | 14.3 (10.2) |
| Rheumatoid factor positive (%) | 52.0 | 54.3 |
| Investigator's global assessment (VAS1-150 0–100 mm) | 28.7 (24.1) | 32.0 (25.3) |
| Patient's global assessment (1–5) | 2.63 (0.88) | 2.72 (0.91) |
| MHAQ1-150 (range 1–4) | 1.61 (0.50) | 1.70 (0.51) |
| Pain (VAS 0–100 mm) | 36.1 (21.9) | 39.7 (22.0) |
| Fatigue (VAS 0–100 mm) | 44.9 (27.8) | 46.4 (28.0) |
| 28 Swollen joint count | 7.84 (6.11) | 8.48 (6.28) |
| 28 Tender joint count | 6.84 (6.36) | 7.53 (6.67) |
| 18 Deformed joint count | 2.15 (3.70) | 2.63 (4.05) |
| ESR1-150 (mm/1st h) | 21.6 (16.5) | 23.2 (17.4) |
| CRP1-150 (mg/l) | 16.2 (11.9) | 16.5 (12.3) |
| DAS1-150 | 4.49 (1.37) | 4.70 (1.33) |
| Corticosteroids | ||
| Never user (%) | 36.3 | 30.7 |
| Previous user (%) | 23.2 | 23.4 |
| Current user (%) | 40.5 | 46.0 |
| Non-vertebral fracture (%) | 21.2 | 26.5 |
↵1-150 BMI = body mass index; VAS = visual analogue scale; MHAQ = Modified Health Assessment Questionnaire; ESR = erythrocyte sedimentation rate; CRP = C reactive protein; DAS = disease activity score.