Unadjusted HRs (95% CI) for work disability in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis by cohort (Nashville, Tennessee USA, and Jyväskylä, Finland)
| Demographic variables | Nashville* (n = 269) | Jyväskylä† (n = 364) |
|---|---|---|
| DMARD, disease-modifying antirheumatic drug; MHAQ, multidimensional health assessment questionnaire. | ||
| Age (years) | ||
| 36–45 v ⩽35 | 0.3 (0.1 to 1.1) | 1.7 (0.6 to 4.8) |
| 46–55 v ⩽35 | 0.8 (0.3 to 1.9) | 6.2 (2.5 to 15.4) |
| >55 v ⩽35 | 0.2 (0.1 to 1.1) | 19.4 (7.5 to 49.9) |
| Male v female | 0.8 (0.3 to 2.1) | 0.8 (0.5 to 1.4) |
| Years of education | ||
| 12 v <12 | 0.6 (0.2 to 1.7) | 0.5 (0.3 to 1.1) |
| >12 v <12 | 0.3 (0.1 to 0.9) | 0.2 (0.1 to 0.4) |
| Non-Caucasian v Caucasian | 3.6 (1.5 to 8.6) | NA |
| Non-sedentary/sedentary work | 2.0 (0.9 to 4.5) | 2.5 (1.4 to 4.3) |
| Disease and drugs characteristics | ||
| Positive/negative rheumatoid factor | 2.2 (0.7 to 6.3) | 1.5 (0.9 to 2.3) |
| Disease duration 5–8 months v ⩽ 4 months | 0.6 (0.2 to 2.1) | 1.1 (0.6 to 1.9) |
| 9–24 months v⩽4 months | 0.3 (1.0 to 0.9) | 0.8 (0.4 to 1.4) |
| >24 months v ⩽4 months | 0.4 (0.1 to 1.2) | 0.3 (0.1 to 0.7) |
| Ever/never methotrexate use | 1.2 (0.3 to 5.2) | 1.7 (1.0 to 2.9) |
| Ever/never biological use | 2.1 (0.9 to 5.4) | 1.8 (0.9 to 3.5) |
| Ever/never prednisone use | 5.1 (0.7 to 37.8) | 2.2 (1.4 to 3.7) |
| Any/none extra-articular disease | 1.9 (0.5 to 8.1) | 1.3 (0.4 to 4.2) |
| Patient questionnaires | ||
| Pain at first assessment | ||
| 21–40 v ⩽20 | 4.1 (0.4 to 39.7) | 22.9 (3.1 to 169.2) |
| 41–60 v ⩽20 | 12.6 (1.6 to 99.5) | 16.2 (2.2 to 122.7) |
| ⩾61 v ⩽20 | 15.9 (2.1 to 121.9) | 36.4 (5.0 to 267.9) |
| Patient global assessment at first assessment | ||
| 21–35 v ⩽20 | 4.8 (0.5 to 46.4) | 2.4 (1.0 to 5.7) |
| 36–50 v ⩽20 | 8.0 (1.0 to 66.2) | 4.0 (1.8 to 9.0) |
| ⩾51 v ⩽20 | 20.0 (2.6 to 150.8) | 4.2 (1.9 to 9.4) |
| MHAQ at first assessment | ||
| 0.1–0.6 v 0 | 2.3 (0.5 to 11.0) | 1.3 (0.6 to 2.7) |
| ⩾0.6 v 0 | 3.2 (0.7 to 14.3) | 1.5 (0.7 to3.2) |
| Pain at last observation | ||
| 11–25 v ⩽10 | 1.1 (0.2 to 6.5) | 2.5 (1.2 to 5.3) |
| 26–50 v ⩽10 | 2.5 (0.5 to 11.8) | 3.9 (2.0 to 7.9) |
| ⩾51 v ⩽10 | 2.4 (0.5 to 10.8) | 3.7 (1.8 to 7.7) |
| Fatigue at last observation | ||
| 11–30 v ⩽10 | 1.0 (0.2 to 4.7) | 2.6 (1.2 to 5.5) |
| 31–60 v ⩽10 | 1.0 (0.2 to 4.0) | 3.3 (1.6 to 6.7) |
| ⩾60 v ⩽10 | 2.0 (0.6 to 7.2) | 4.4 (2.0 to 9.6) |
| Global at last observation | ||
| 11–30 v ⩽10 | 0.9 (0.2 to 3.9) | 4.5 (1.6 to 13.0) |
| 31–50 v ⩽10 | 1.0 (0.2 to 3.9) | 6.9 (2.4 to 19.8) |
| ⩾51 v ⩽10 | 2.8 (0.9 to 8.7) | 6.8 (2.3 to 19.7) |
| MHAQ at last observation | ||
| 0.1–0.6 v 0 | 1.0 (0.3 to 3.3) | 3.7 (2.1 to 6.8) |
| ⩾0.6 v 0 | 2.4 (0.8 to 6.7) | 7.3 (3.6 to 14.7) |
| Time to first DMARD (months) | ||
| 3.1–6.0 v ⩽3 | 0.5 (0.2 to 1.4) | 1.5 (0.7 to 2.9) |
| 6.1–12.0 v ⩽3 | 0.5 (0.2 to 1.3) | 1.1 (0.5 to 2.4) |
| ⩾12.1 v ⩽3 | 0.2 (0.1 to 0.7) | 0.7 (0.3 to 1.4) |