Variable (possible range) | Baseline (n=50) | 3 months’ follow-up (n=46) | 6 months’ follow-up (n=41) | Δ 0–3 months | Δ 3–6 months | Δ 0–6 months | |||||||
Mean | Median (range) | IQR | Mean | Median (range) | IQR | Mean | Median (range) | IQR | P value | P value | P value | ||
Laboratory/clinical parameters | P-urate (mmol/L) | 0.49 | 0.48 (0.32–0.78) | 0.42; 0.56 | 0.36 | 0.35 (0.24–0.55) | 0.30; 0.39 | 0.33 | 0.31 (0.22–0.51) | 0.29; 0.34 | <0.001 | 0.014 | <0.001 |
CRP (mg/L) | 15.2 | 5.2 (0.3–120) | 0.9; 22 | 5.5 | 2.5 (0.3–53) | 0.7; 6.6 | 4.75 | 2.3 (0.3–43) | 0.7; 3.0 | 0.053 | 0.854 | 0.001 | |
Swollen joint count (0–60) | 1.96 | 1 (0–14) | 0; 2 | 1.30 | 0 (0–14) | 0; 1 | 0.71 | 0 (0–6) | 0; 1 | 0.032 | 0.210 | <0.001 | |
Tender joint count (0–60) | 2.74 | 2 (0–18) | 1; 4 | 1.54 | 0 (0–12) | 0; 2 | 0.83 | 0 (0–5) | 0; 1 | 0.006 | 0.091 | <0.001 | |
PROs | Patient VAS pain (0–100) | 37.3 | 33 (0–95) | 15; 55 | 18.6 | 9 (0–85) | 0; 40 | 10.6 | 5 (0–60) | 0; 15 | <0.001 | 0.003 | <0.001 |
HAQ (0–3) | 0.27 | 0 (0–2) | 0; 0.375 | 0.19 | 0 (0–1.625) | 0; 0.125 | 0.12 | 0 (0–1.75) | 0; 0 | 0.464 | 0.344 | 0.129 | |
No of gout attacks (12 weeks) | 2.36 | 2 (0–8) | 1; 3 | 0.74 | 0 (0–6) | 0; 1 | 0.49 | 0 (0–3) | 0; 1 | <0.001 | 0.340 | <0.001 | |
No of gout attacks (4 weeks) | 1.16 | 1 (0–4) | 1; 1 | 0.35 | 0 (0–2) | 0; 1 | 0.29 | 0 (0–3) | 0; 0 | <0.001 | 0.640 | <0.001 | |
Ultrasound findings | Double contour (0–28) | 3.16 | 3 (0–9) | 1; 4 | 2.33 | 2 (0–8) | 1; 3 | 1.34 | 1 (0–7) | 0; 2 | <0.001 | <0.001 | <0.001 |
Tophi (0–54) | 2.68 | 2 (0–11) | 1; 4 | 2.43 | 2 (0–8) | 1; 3 | 1.83 | 1 (0–8) | 1; 3 | 0.002 | <0.001 | <0.001 | |
Aggregates (0–54) | 6.14 | 5 (0–20) | 3; 9 | 6.02 | 6 (0–15) | 4; 8 | 5.02 | 5 (0–12) | 2; 7 | 0.597 | 0.002 | <0.001 | |
Crystal sum score (0–136) | 11.98 | 11 (2–36) | 6; 15 | 10.78 | 10 (2–28) | 7; 14 | 8.20 | 7 (1–24) | 4; 12 | <0.001 | <0.001 | <0.001 | |
Erosions (0–28) | 1.98 | 2 (0–6) | 1; 3 | 2.17 | 2 (0–6) | 1; 3 | 2.02 | 2 (0–5) | 1; 3 | 0.289 | 0.432 | 0.967 | |
Synovial hypertrophy (0–132) | 9.30 | 9 (2–21) | 5; 12 | 8.41 | 7 (1–21) | 5; 11 | 7.80 | 6 (2–21) | 4; 10 | 0.063 | 0.378 | 0.031 | |
Doppler activity (0–132) | 3.44 | 3 (0–10) | 2; 5 | 1.89 | 2 (0–7) | 0; 3 | 2.24 | 2 (0–8) | 0; 4 | <0.001 | 0.096 | 0.003 |
Within-group changes over time were analysed using Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Statistically significant results are indicated by boldfaced type.
CRP, C reactive protein; HAQ, Health Assessment Questionnaire; PRO, patient-reported outcome; VAS, visual analogue scale.