Clinical and epidemiological characteristics of 70 patients with RA and 70 healthy controls
| Variable | RA n=70 | Controls n=70 | P value |
| Epidemiological characteristics | |||
| Female sex, n (%) | 57 (81.4) | 57 (81.4) | 1.000 |
| Age in years, mean (SD) | 56.2 (12.3) | 56.4 (11.3) | 0.947 |
| Caucasian race, n (%) | 70 (100) | 71 (100) | 1.000 |
| Educational level: | 0.980 | ||
| Primary, n (%) | 20 (28.6) | 19 (27.1) | |
| Non-university higher, n (%) | 34 (48.6) | 35 (50.0) | |
| University, n (%) | 16 (22.9) | 16 (22.9) | |
| Clinical characteristics | |||
| Dyslipidaemia, n (%) | 16 (22.9) | 13 (18.6) | 0.532 |
| Arterial hypertension, n (%) | 20 (28.6) | 18 (25.7) | 0.704 |
| Smoking | 0.037 | ||
| Non-smoker, n (%) | 31 (44.3) | 46 (65.7) | |
| Ex-smoker, n (%) | 21 (30.0) | 12 (17.1) | |
| Smoker, n (%) | 18 (25.7) | 12 (17.1) | |
| Obesity, n (%) | 20 (28.6) | 14 (20.0) | 0.237 |
| Diabetes mellitus, n (%) | 8 (11.4) | 5 (7.1) | 0.382 |
| Disease duration, median (IQR), months | 126.4 (34.6–184.8) | – | – |
| Diagnostic delay, median (IQR) months | 10.5 (3.9–11.52) | – | – |
| Erosions, n (%) | 35 (50.0) | – | – |
| RF positive (>10 U/mL,), n (%) | 60 (85.7) | 0 (0.0) | <0.001 |
| ACPA positive (>20 U/mL), n (%) | 56 (80.0) | 0 (0.0) | <0.001 |
| ACPA elevated>340 U/mL, n (%) | 21 (30.0) | 0 (0.0) | <0.001 |
| DAS28-CRP, mean (SD) | 4.9 (1.15) | – | – |
| Average DAS28-CRP, mean (SD) | 3.7 (0.9) | – | – |
| PGA, median (IQR) | 70 (60–90) | – | – |
| VAS pain, median (IQR) | 70 (60–90) | – | – |
| Physician’s Global Assessment, median (IQR) | 70 (60–80) | – | – |
| HAQ, mean (SD) | 1.4 (0.7) | – | – |
| Average HAQ, mean (SD) | 1.0 (0.5) | – | – |
| CRP, mg/dL, mean (SD) | 14.7 (10.7) | 4.0 (3.5) | <0.001 |
| Average CRP, mg/dL, mean (SD) | 10.8 (9.5) | 4.0 (3.5) | <0.001 |
| IL-6, pg/mL, median (IQR) | 5.4 (2.2–13.3) | 1.5 (0.9–2.5) | <0.001 |
| IL-1β, pg/mL, median (IQR) | 8.2 (2.9–13.2) | 6.2 (2.3–12.3) | 0.402 |
| Erythrocyte sedimentation rate, mm/h, mean (SD) | 27.2 (18.0) | 12.0 (7.7) | <0.001 |
| Treatment | |||
| Synthetic DMARDs, n (%) | 70 (100.0) | – | – |
| Methotrexate, n (%) | 45 (64.3) | – | – |
| Hydroxychloroquine, n (%) | 11 (15.7) | – | – |
| Leflunomide, n (%) | 11 (15.7) | – | – |
| Sulfasalazine, n (%) | 19 (27.1) | – | – |
| Corticosteroids, median (IQR) | 5.0 (0.0–7.5) | 0.0 (0.0–0.0) | – |
| Corticosteroids, n (%) | 52 (74.3) | 0 (0.0) | – |
ACPA, anti-citrullinated peptide antibody; CRP, C-reactive protein; DAS28, 28-joint Disease Activity Score; DMARD, disease-modifying antirheumatic drug; HAQ, Health Assessment Questionnaire; IL, interleukin; PGA, Patient Global Assessment; RA, rheumatoid arthritis; RF, rheumatoid factor; VAS, Visual Analogue Scale.