Clinical, pharmacotherapy, and demographic data for the study population. Significance is expressed as the p-value using 1-way ANOVA or the Kruskal-Wallis test (ESR) comparing community controls, rheumatoid arthritis, and hospital controls with diabetes and/or hypertension. Categorical indices were analyzed using the chi-squared test. Data expressed as mean (single-number SD), median (2-number interquartile range), percentage, or actual number.
| Characteristics | Community Controls (n = 48) | Rheumatoid Arthritis (n = 66) | Disease Controls (n = 25) | p |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age, yrs | 54.0 (10) | 58.5 (14) | 66 (9) | < 0.001 |
| Sex | 17 M, 34 F | 25 M, 41 F | 19 M, 6 F | 0.001 |
| Systolic blood pressure | 135 (22) | 136 (22) | 150 (17) | 0.009 |
| Diastolic blood pressure | 83 (11) | 79 (12) | 80 (11) | 0.205 |
| Treated hypertension, % | 16.7 | 24.2 | 95.7 | < 0.001 |
| Diabetes, % | 0 | 4.5 | 100 | < 0.001 |
| Active smokers, % | 8.3 | 31.8a | 8.0 | 0.002 |
| Statin-treated, % | 2.3 | 9.2 | 73.9 | < 0.001 |
| Cholesterol, mmol/l | 5.7 (1.1) | 4.9 (1.1) | 4.3 (0.8) | < 0.001 |
| ESR, mm/h | 5 (3–29) | 23 (8–50) | 13 (4–24) | < 0.001 |
| NSAID-treated, % | 6.25 | 62.1 | 0 | < 0.001 |
| Methotrexate-treated, % | 0 | 66.7 | 0 | < 0.001 |
| Steroid-treated, % | 0 | 33.3 | 0 | < 0.001 |
ESR: erythrocyte sedimentation rate; NSAID: nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug.