Baseline characteristics of the IP cohort and the CVD substudy population
| Variables | Number of subjects with data in total population | Total study population Median (IQR)/mean (SD)/n(%) n=960 | Number of subjects with data in CVD substudy | CVD substudy population Median (IQR)/mean (SD)/n(%) n=327 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Demographics | ||||
| Age (years) | 960 | 58 (47–68) | 327 | 51 (42–58)* |
| Female | 960 | 617 (64%) | 327 | 232 (71%) |
| IP disease parameters | ||||
| RF/ACPA positive | 823 | 484 (59%) | 322 | 162 (50%) |
| RA, 1987 ACR criteria | 960 | 436 (45%) | 327 | 152 (46%) |
| HAQ score | 946 | 0.88 (0.38–1.50) | 325 | 0.88 (0.38–1.38) |
| DAS28CRP | 842 | 3.7 (2.8–4.6) | 305 | 3.8 (3.0–4.8) |
| Swollen joints (/28) | 960 | 2 (0–6) | 327 | 3 (1–6) |
| Tender joints (/28) | 960 | 3 (0–8) | 327 | 4 (1–10) |
| CRP (mg/l) | 842 | 11 (5–22) | 305 | 11 (8–20) |
| Symptom duration (months) | 960 | 5.9 (3.2–10.5) | 327 | 6.5 (4.2–11.2) |
| Treatments | ||||
| DMARDs | 960 | 496 (52%) | 327 | 182 (56%) |
| Steroids | 960 | 245 (26%) | 327 | 60 (18%) |
| NSAIDs | 960 | 344 (36%) | 327 | 212 (65%) |
| COX-2 inhibitor | 960 | 83 (9%) | 327 | 15 (5%) |
| Paracetamol | 960 | 164 (17%) | 327 | 129 (39%) |
| Antihypertensive therapy | 960 | 193 (20%) | 327 | 42 (13%) |
| Statin therapy | 960 | 17 (2%) | 327 | 24 (7%) |
| CVD parameters | ||||
| BMI (kg/m2) | 940 | 26.4 (23.6–30.1) | 320 | 26.7 (24.1–31.0) |
| Diabetes | 960 | 88 (9%) | 327 | 31 (9%) |
| Current smoker | 845 | 211/845 (25%) | 269 | 74 (28%) |
| Previous smoker | 845 | 378/845 (45%) | 269 | 127 (47%) |
| Never smoker | 845 | 256/845 (30%) | 269 | 68 (25%) |
| Prior CVD | 960 | 163 (17%) | 327 | 14 (4%) |
| Hypertensive | 960 | 208 (22%) | 327 | 44 (13%) |
| BP (mm Hg) | NA | – | 327 | 134/83 (17/10) |
| Systolic BP (mm Hg) | NA | – | 327 | 133 (17) |
| Diastolic BP (mm Hg) | NA | – | 327 | 83 (10) |
| Total cholesterol (mmol/l) | NA | – | 327 | 5.3 (4.7–6.0) |
| LDL (mmol/l) | NA | – | 327 | 3.3 (2.7–3.9) |
| HDL (mmol/l) | NA | – | 327 | 1.4 (1.1–1.7) |
| Fasting glucose (mg/dl) | NA | – | 327 | 4.8 (4.5–5.1) |
| CVD surrogates | ||||
| cIMT (mm) | NA | – | 327 | 0.06 (0.05–0.07) |
| Carotid plaque | NA | – | 327 | 150 (46%) |
*Statistically significantly different at p<0.05.
ACPA, anticitrulinated protein antibody; ACR, American College for Rheumatology; BMI, body mass index; BP, blood pressure; cIMT, carotid intima-medial thickness; COX-2, cyclo-oxygenase-2 inhibitor; CRP, C reactive protein; CVD, cardiovascular disease; DAS28, disease activity score based on 28 joint count; DMARD, disease modifying antirheumatic drug; HAQ, Health Assessment Questionnaire; IP, inflammatory polyarthritis; mm Hg, millimetres of mercury; NA, data not available; NSAID, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug; RA, rheumatoid arthritis; RF, rheumatoid factor.