TY - JOUR T1 - The Influence of Sex on Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis in a Large Observational Cohort JF - The Journal of Rheumatology JO - J Rheumatol SP - 508 LP - 511 DO - 10.3899/jrheum.080724 VL - 36 IS - 3 AU - NORIKO IIKUNI AU - ERI SATO AU - MASAYA HOSHI AU - EISUKE INOUE AU - ATSUO TANIGUCHI AU - MASAKO HARA AU - TAISUKE TOMATSU AU - NAOYUKI KAMATANI AU - HISASHI YAMANAKA Y1 - 2009/03/01 UR - http://www.jrheum.org/content/36/3/508.abstract N2 - Objective. To compare the sex differences of various components of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods. Data of 4823 patients from a large observational cohort study were analyzed. Remarkable differences were noted between the sexes, and overall, women had significantly higher disease activity. Results. When variables were adjusted using sex, age, and duration, Health Assessment Questionnaire, rather than Disease Activity Score, contributed most to sex difference. Further analysis showed evidence that progression of disability was approximately 3 times more rapid in female patients compared to male patients. Conclusion. Women overall have higher RA disease activity and are prone to greater and faster progression of disability over time. ER -