Baseline characteristics
| Patients employed or on the job market (n=528) | Patients considering or receiving a disability pension (n=69) | |
|---|---|---|
| Age (years), mean (SD) | 47 (9.5) | 52.3 (6.2) |
| Female (%) | 68 | 59 |
| Symptom duration (weeks), mean (SD) | 12.8 (7.6) | 12.4 (6.6) |
| RF and/or ACPA positive (%) | 57 | 61 |
| ACR/EULAR criteria positive (%) | 58 | 71 |
| DMARDs (%) | 88 | 95 |
| Sick leave during the last 6 months (days), mean (SD) | 14 (25) | 38 (51) |
| BMI, mean (SD) | 26.6 (4.8) | 27.6 (5.1) |
| DAS28 ESR, mean (SD) | 4.4 (1.4) | 5.1 (1.3) |
| ESR (mm/h), mean (SD) | 25 (19.8) | 38.5 (25.3) |
| CRP (mg/L), mean (SD) | 13.6 (27.8) | 27.8 (46.2) |
| Number of comorbidities, mean (SD) | 0.6 (0.9) | 0.9 (1.3) |
| Pain (NRS 0–10), mean (SD) | 5.3 (2.6) | 6.2 (2.5) |
| Fatigue (PROFAD, 0–50), mean (SD) | 14.9 (12.3) | 24 (13) |
| Morning stiffness (NRS 0–10), mean (SD) | 5.1 (3.2) | 6.2 (3) |
| SJC28, mean (SD) | 5.4 (5.1) | 6.6 (6.8) |
| TJC28, mean (SD) | 8.9 (6.1) | 10.3 (6.8) |
| Functional capacity (FFbH, 0–100), mean (SD) | 81.8 (17.4) | 69 (19.1) |
| Unemployed patients (%) | 6 | 18 |
| Patients on sick leave (%) | 17 | 31 |
| Physical job demands (%) | ||
| Low | 30 | 16 |
| Moderate | 31 | 38 |
| Severe | 39 | 46 |
| Education level (%) | ||
| Low | 27 | 40 |
| Moderate | 51 | 37 |
| High | 22 | 23 |
| Depression (PHQ-9) (%) | ||
| No | 60 | 36 |
| Low | 25 | 20 |
| Moderate | 10 | 22 |
| Severe | 5 | 22 |
The 69 patients who have considered a disability pension, applied for one or newly received one are a subgroup of the 528 patients who are employed or on the job market.
ACPA, anticitrullinated protein antibody; BMI, body mass index; CRP, C reactive protein; DAS28, disease activity score; DMARDs, disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs; ESR, erythrocyte sedimentation rate; FFbH, Hannover Functional Status Questionnaire; NRS, numerical rating scales; PHQ-9, Patient Health Questionnaire Depression Score; PROFAD, Profile of Fatigue and Discomfort; RF, rheumatoid factor.