Median changes in clinical variables within the steroid and placebo treated groups at each assessment point
| Clinical feature | 4 weeks | 12 weeks | 24 weeks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The values are median change (interquartile range) for each clinical feature at 4, 12, and 24 weeks compared with baseline measurements, along with the corresponding p value for improvement in each variable. Data were analysed using the Mann–Whitney U test. Significant values in bold. | ||||
| PL, placebo group; ST, corticosteroid group; VAS, visual analogue score. | ||||
| VAS | (PL) | 18.5 (3.5 to 20.1) | 23.3 (6.0 to 29.3) | 14.0 (−12.5 to 16.9) |
| p = 0.34 | p = 0.51 | p = 0.32 | ||
| (ST) | 10.5 (−8.0 to 12.6) | 3.5 (−8.5 to 4.9) | 0.0 (−12.5 to 2.3) | |
| p = 0.15 | p = 0.31 | p = 0.52 | ||
| Joint tenderness | (PL) | 1.0 (0.0 to 1.3) | 2.0 (−1.5 to 3.1) | 2.5 (−1.5 to 3.5) |
| p = 0.53 | p = 0.24 | p = 0.25 | ||
| (ST) | 0.0 (−1.0 to 0.9) | 0.5 (−1.0 to 1.0) | 0.5 (−1.5 to 1.0) | |
| p = 0.32 | p = 0.41 | p = 0.54 | ||
| Patient’s global assessment | (PL) | 0.5 ( 0.0 to 1.2) | 1.0 (0.5 to 1.5) | 1.0 (0.5 to 1.5) |
| p = 0.02 | p = 0.01 | p = 0.01 | ||
| (ST) | 0.5 (0.0 to 1.0) | 0.5 (0.0 to 1.0) | 0.0 (0.0 to 0.5) | |
| p = 0.02 | p = 0.04 | p = 0.19 | ||
| Physician’s global assessment | (PL) | 1.0 (0.5 to +∞) | 1.5 (0.0 to +∞) | 1.0 (0.5 to +∞) |
| p = 0.01 | p = 0.03 | p = 0.01 | ||
| (ST) | 0.5 (0.0 to 1.0) | 0.5 (0.0 to 1.0) | 0.0 ( 0.0 to 0.5) | |
| p = 0.02 | p = 0.03 | p = 0.18 | ||
| Joint stiffness | (PL) | 2.5 (0.0 to 3.0) | 2.5 (−10.0 to 3.8) | 5.0 (−5.0 to 8.5) |
| p = 0.17 | p = 0.37 | p = 0.21 | ||
| (ST) | 0.0 (−5.0 to 2.5) | 0.0 (−7.5 to 1.3) | 0.0 (−7.5 to 1.0) | |
| p = 0.35 | p = 0.67 | p = 0.58 | ||