Selected demographic and clinical characteristics of the cohort.
| Variable | Caucasian, n = 826 | Aboriginal, n = 73 | Afro-Caribbean, n = 122 | Asian, n = 249 | p |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sex, % female | 91 | 89 | 96 | 83 | 0.001 |
| Onset age, mean yrs ± SD | 33 ± 14.4 | 34 ± 12.5 | 30 ± 10.6 | 25 ± 11.7 | < 0.001 |
| Disease duration, mean yrs ± SD | 14 ± 10.6 | 7 ± 6.7 | 10 ± 8.9 | 11 ± 7.8 | < 0.001 |
| Age, mean yrs ± SD | 47 ± 14.4 | 40 ± 11.7 | 40 ± 13.6 | 35 ± 12.8 | < 0.001 |
| High school graduates, % | 85 | 55 | 91 | 93 | < 0.001 |
| Annual household income, % | 0.004 | ||||
| < $ 15,000 Cdn | 11 | 23 | 19 | 9 | |
| ≥ $15–25,000 Cdn | 13 | 16 | 26 | 15 | |
| > $25–50,000 Cdn | 23 | 30 | 28 | 23 | |
| > $50,000 Cdn | 53 | 32 | 28 | 53 | |
| ACR criteria met, mean no. ± SD | 6.0 ± 1.7 | 5.7 ± 1.7 | 5.8 ± 1.6 | 6.2 + 1.7 | NS |
| Charlson Comorbidity Index | 1.5 | 1.7 | 1.3 | 1.2 | 0.05 |
| No Damage: SLICC Index = % | 42 | 39 | 35 | 59 | < 0.001 |
ACR: American College of Rheumatology; SLICC: Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics. NS: nonsignificant.