Median values (range) of the outcome variables for radiographic joint damage as measured with the SHS and Larsen score for large joints, and disability as measured with the HAQ in subgroups with respect to tertiles of exposure to OC use in months and number of pregnancies in female patients with RA at 12 years of follow up
| Number of patients | SHS | HAQ | Larsen | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SHS, Sharp score modification van der Heijde; Larsen, Larsen score for large joints (0–60); HAQ, Health Assessment Questionnaire. | ||||
| *Lowest versus highest tertile Mann-Whitney. | ||||
| Total OC use | ||||
| <40 months | 37 | 146 (0–392) | 1.0 (0–2.63) | 6 (0–48) |
| 40<x<150 | 36 | 157 (0–395) | 0.87 (0–2.88) | 2.5 (0–55) |
| >150 months | 37 | 74 (0–428) | 0.5 (0–3) | 3 (0–48) |
| p* | 0.196 | 0.96 | 0.34 | |
| Pregnancies (n) | ||||
| <2 | 26 | 131 (0–413) | 1.25 (0–2.88) | 3 (0–48) |
| 2 | 45 | 78 (0–428) | 0.62 (0–3) | 3 (0–40) |
| ≥3 | 39 | 145 (0–395) | 0.75 (0–2.63) | 4.5 (0–55) |
| p* | 0.75 | 0.05 | 0.296 | |