Table 3

Impact of treatment on SF-36 component scores and domains

Mean component/domain score (SD)DR prednisone/DMARDPlacebo/DMARDTreatment difference (95% CI)
BaselineWeek 12Difference‡BaselineWeek 12Difference‡
Physical component31.6 (7.0)§35.1 (8.1)3.4 (5.8)31.5 (6.9)32.7 (7.3)1.2 (5.1)2.3 (1.1 to 3.5)*
Range14–5614–5618–4815–58
Mental component45.3 (10.7)§46.9 (10.7) 21–701.6 (7.3)45.4 (9.6)45.9 (9.6)0.5 (6.3)1.1 (−0.4 to 2.5)
Range17–6823–6414–64
Physical functioning40.2 (21.2)47.3 (24.1)7.1 (16.5)40.7 (20.5)44.2 (22.3)3.5 (13.8)3.6 (0.2 to 7.0)**
Range0–950–1000–900–100
Role physical44.5 (22.3)50.8 (23.8)6.0 (20.1)43.3 (21.9)45.4 (21.1)2.1 (14.6)4.5 (0.7 to 8.3)**
Range0–1000–1000–1000–100
Bodily pain34.4 (16.2)45.7 (20.5)11.3 (17.8)34.0 (15.5)38.4 (18.8)4.5 (16.1)7.0 (3.3 to 10.7)*
Range0–840–1000–740–100
General health39.8 (18.4)44.6 (20.1)4.7 (12.9)40.6 (16.5)41.9 (17.1)1.3 (13.7)3.3 (0.5 to 6.2)**
Range0–970–970–925–100
Social functioning57.9 (25.6)63.9 (25.1)5.9 (18.9)56.5 (23.3)58.5 (23.7)2.0 (19.8)4.4 (0.5 to 8.4)**
Range0–1000–1000–1000–100
Role emotional57.2 (28.8)59.6 (26.6)2.5 (22.5)56.0 (25.6)58.5 (27.1)2.5 (21.2)0.7 (−3.6 to 5.1)
Range0–1000–1000–1000–100
Mental health59.1 (20.7)63.7 (21.1)4.6 (15.7)61.0 (20.0)62.5 (19.5)1.5 (12.3)2.7 (−0.4 to 5.7)
Range0–10010–10010–950–100
  • *p≤0.0003

  • **p≤0.0374.

  • ‡Absolute difference from baseline, using baseline observation carried forward imputation.

  • §Data missing for two patients.

  • DMARD, disease-modifying antirheumatic drug; DR, delayed-release; SF-36, Short Form-36.