Characteristics of rheumatoid patients and controls
| Variable | RA (n = 234) | Controls (n = 102) | p Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| BMI, body mass index; BP, blood pressure; CRP, C reactive protein; ESR, erythrocyte sedimentation rate; FH, family history; RA, rheumatoid arthritis; w, weeks; y, years. | |||
| Age (median (range)) | 59 (40 to 84) | 59 (40 to 81) | 0.9 |
| Women (n (%)) | 210 (90) | 90 (88) | 0.7 |
| Cardiovascular risk factors | |||
| Diabetes (n (%)) | 39 (17) | 1 (1) | ⩽0.001 |
| Systolic BP (mm Hg) (median (range)) | 139 (94 to 240) | 136 (98 to 202) | 0.7 |
| Diastolic BP (mm Hg) (median (range)) | 74 (46 to 150) | 77 (52 to 124) | 0.3 |
| Hypercholesterolaemia (n (%)) | 118 (50) | 57 (56) | 0.4 |
| BMI (kg/m2) (median (range)) | 28.2 (14.2 to 56.4) | 25.8 (18.4 to 43.3) | ⩽0.001 |
| Current/past cigarette smoking (n (%)) | 0 | 0 | – |
| FH of cardiovascular disease (n (%)) | 95 (45) | 55 (54) | 0.1 |
| Disease duration (median (range)) | 12.3 y (6 w to 55 y) | 0 | |
| Tender joint (median (range)) | 10 (0 to 47) | 0 | – |
| Swollen joints (median (range)) | 9 (3 to 19) | 0 | – |
| Deformed joints (median (range)) | 16 (0 to 48) | 0 | – |
| Subcutaneous nodules (n (%)) | 101 (43) | 0 | – |
| Drugs for rheumatoid arthritis | |||
| Methotrexate (n (%)) | 126 (54) | 0 | – |
| Prednisone (n (%)) | 106 (45) | 0 | – |
| Average ESR (mm/h) (median (range)) | 31 (1 to 141) | 18 (1 to 62) | ⩽0.001 |
| Average CRP (mg/l) (median (range)) | 7.9 (0.2 to 260) | 2.4 (0.1 to 29.9) | ⩽0.001 |
| Rheumatoid factor positive (n (%)) | 149 (65) | 1 (1) | ⩽0.001 |