Baseline demographic and clinical characteristics of the study population. None of the characteristics showed a statistically significant intergroup comparison.
| Characteristics | Low-dose Prednisolone, n = 63 | Placebo, n = 62 |
|---|---|---|
| Age, yrs, mean (SD) | 67.9 (6.2) | 68.0 (5.8) |
| Sex (F/M) | 58/5 | 56/6 |
| BMI, kg/m2, mean (SD) | 27.6 (4.9) | 27.5 (5.1) |
| Disease duration, yrs, mean (SD) | 6.7 (4.9) | 6.6 (4.7) |
| Kellgren-Lawrence grade, n (%) | ||
| II | 13 (21) | 12 (19) |
| III | 36 (57) | 37 (60) |
| IV | 14 (22) | 13 (21) |
| Morning stiffness, < 30 min, n (%) | 58 (92) | 57 (92) |
| Clinical synovitis, n (%) | 63 (100) | 62 (100) |
| Analgesic use, n (%) | ||
| Paracetamol | 61 (97) | 59 (95) |
| NSAID | 58 (92) | 56 (90) |
BMI: body mass index; NSAID: nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs.