Table 1

Characteristics of all participants on the study completion date stratified by normal/low morning salivary cortisol level

AllNormal MSCLow MSCStatistic
n (% total)7647 (62% of 76)29 (38% of 76)
Female, n (%)54 (71%)37 (79%)17 (59%)Chi2(1)=3.52, p=0.060
Age (years), median (IQR)69 (60–75)65 (58–73)69 (65–79)KW(1)=5.14, p=0.023
BMI, median (IQR)27.9 (23.7–31.2)28.3 (23.3–34.9)26.7 (24.1–29.6)KW(1)=1.10, p=0.295
Townsend score quintile
 118%15%22%
 235%39%30%
 324%20%30%
 4 or 5*24%27%19%Chi2(3)=2.12, p=0.547
RA duration (years), median (IQR)7.5 (2.8–10.2)5.0 (2.3–8.9)9.6 (7.7–12.2)KW(1)=9.72, p=0.002
GP visits†, median (IQR)2 (1–5)2 (1–5)3 (2–7)KW(1)=1.38, p=0.233
DMARD prescription‡86%87%83%Chi2(1)=0.29, p=0.590
Current oral GC user (%)50%28%86%Chi2(1)=24.59, p=0.000
Current oral GC dose (mg), median (IQR)1 (0–5)0 (0–3)5 (5–10)KW(1)=29.10, p=0.0001
Total time exposed to oral GCs‡ (weeks), median (IQR)50.6 (8.9–101.3)23.9 (4.9–78.9)97.4 (52.1–104.4)KW(1)=10.64, p=0.001
Non-oral GC in past 12 weeks (%)36%30%45%Chi2(1)=1.77, p=0.183
  • Eight participants were missing Townsend score, eight participants were missing BMI.

  • *Minimum cell count=5.

  • †In past year.

  • ‡In past 2 years.

  • BMI, Body Mass Index; Chi2, chi-squared; DMARD, disease-modifying antirheumatic drug; GC, glucocorticoid; GP, general practitioner; KW, Kruskal-Wallis; MSC, morning salivary cortisol level; n, number; RA, rheumatoid arthritis.