Time from Symptom Onset to DMARD Treatment | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Variable | Overall, n = 339 | < 6 mo, n = 139 | ≥ 6 mo, n = 200 | p† |
Age at symptom onset, yrs, median (IQR) | 50 (41–60) | 50 (40–62) | 50 (41–59) | 0.77 |
Swollen joint count, median (IQR) | 10 (6–14) | 11 (6–15) | 9 (5–14) | 0.05 |
Tender joint count, median (IQR) | 14 (8–20) | 15 (9–21) | 13 (7–19) | 0.05 |
ESR, mm/h, median (IQR) | 32 (20–47) | 32 (20–49) | 32 (20–46) | 0.92 |
CRP, mg/l, median (IQR) | 28 (13–38) | 29 (16–38) | 28 (12–38) | 0.42 |
Rheumatoid factor-positive, n (%) | 239 (70.5) | 98 (70.5) | 141 (70.5) | 1.00 |
Male, n (%) | 83 (24.5) | 43 (30.9) | 40 (20.0) | 0.02 |
Concomitant MSK condition, n (%) | 137 (40.4) | 47 (33.8) | 90 (45.0) | 0.04 |
Osteoarthritis | 91 (26.8) | — | — | — |
Fibromyalgia | 36 (10.7) | — | — | — |
Osteoporosis | 47 (13.9) | — | — | — |
Other | 3 (0.9) | — | — | — |
Radiographic evidence of erosions, n (%) | 55 (16.2) | 17 (12.2) | 38 (19.0) | 0.10 |
Previously consulted another rheumatologist, n (%) | 142 (41.9) | 67 (48.2) | 75 (37.5) | 0.05 |
Use of NSAID prior to diagnosis, n (%) | 288 (85.0) | 117 (84.2) | 171 (85.5) | 0.74 |
Academic study investigator, n (%) | 214 (63.1) | 98 (70.5) | 116 (58.0) | 0.02 |
↵* Maximum value recorded in the clinical chart up to the date of diagnosis.
↵† Z approximation of Wilcoxon rank-sum test for ordinal variables with skewed data distributions; Cochran Mantel-Haenszel chi-square test for 2 × 2 tables for binary data, positive vs negative variable. CRP: C-reactive protein; DMARD: disease-modifying antirheumatic drug; ESR: erythrocyte sedimentation rate; IQR: interquartile range; MSK: musculoskeletal; NSAID: nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug.