Univariate analyses of patients and controls at the time of PMR (or PA) onset involving age, sex, baseline ESR and CRP levels, and response to treatment. Values are n (%) or mean ± SD unless otherwise specified.
| Characteristics | Patients, n = 67 | N Assessed | Controls, n = 65 | N Assessed | p |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age, yrs | 72.1 ± 8 | 67 | 70.2 ± 7.9 | 65 | 0.16 |
| Female sex | 50 (74.6) | 67 | 25 (38.5) | 65 | < 0.0001 |
| PA or overlapping PMR/PA | 12 (17.9) | 67 | 15 (23.1) | 65 | 0.545 |
| Baseline ESR, mm/h | 72.1 ± 28.2 | 52 | 74 ± 31.9 | 54 | 0.72 |
| Baseline CRP, mg/dl | 7.11 ± 3.47 | 53 | 7.14 ± 4.76 | 63 | 0.97 |
| TAB performed | 9 (13.6) | 66 | 18 (27.7) | 65 | 0.05 |
| Initial prednisone dose, mg/d | 24.8 ± 12.2 | 63 | 27.4 ± 14.3 | 65 | 0.26 |
| Relapses | 29 (43.9) | 66 | 38 (58.5) | 65 | 0.10 |
| Chronic/resistant disease | 17 (25.8) | 66 | 14 (21.5) | 65 | 0.61 |
| Use of GC-sparing drugs | 14 (20.9) | 67 | 14 (21.5) | 65 | 0.93 |
| Late occurrence of RA or AS | 2 (3.0) | 67 | 3 (4.6) | 65 | 0.44 |
PMR: polymyalgia rheumatica; PA: peripheral arthritis; ESR: erythrocyte sedimentation rate; CRP: C-reactive protein; TAB: temporal artery biopsy; GC: glucocorticoid; RA: rheumatoid arthritis; AS: ankylosing spondyloarthritis.