BP characteristics in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and the non-RA subjects.
| Variable | RA, n = 442 | Non-RA, n = 424 | p |
|---|---|---|---|
| BP at RA incidence/index date, mm Hg | |||
| Systolic BP | 131.2 ± 18.7 | 128.2 ± 19.3 | 0.018 |
| Diastolic BP | 75.1 ± 10.9 | 75.6 ± 11.0 | 0.53 |
| Pulse pressure | 56.1 ± 15.4 | 52.6 ± 15.8 | < 0.001 |
| BP variability*, mm Hg | |||
| Systolic | 13.8 ± 4.7 | 13.0 ± 5.2 | 0.004 |
| Diastolic | 8.4 ± 2.9 | 8.0 ± 2.6 | 0.21 |
| Pulse pressure | 11.7 ± 3.7 | 10.9 ± 4.3 | < 0.001 |
| Coefficient of variation of BP** | |||
| Systolic | 0.106 ± 0.032 | 0.102 ± 0.037 | 0.034 |
| Diastolic | 0.115 ± 0.039 | 0.111 ± 0.039 | 0.28 |
| Pulse pressure | 0.209 ± 0.058 | 0.203 ± 0.065 | 0.046 |
All values are given as mean ± SD. Statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) are shown in bold.
↵* Visit-to-visit BP variability was defined as within-subject SD in systolic and diastolic BP, as well as in pulse pressure levels between the visits to any healthcare provider.
↵** Coefficient of variation was calculated as SD divided by the corresponding BP mean. BP: blood pressure.