Baseline characteristics of study population stratified by study group
| Baseline characteristics | Community (n=192) | Hospital (n=154) |
|---|---|---|
| Women, n (%) | 136 (70.10) | 106 (69.28) |
| Age, years; mean (SD) | 65.56 (10.56) | 64.86 (11.39) |
| Disease duration, years; mean (SD) (n=172; 147) | 13.82 (11.33) | 12.91 (11.45) |
| Baseline RA regimen | ||
| Methotrexate (%) | 155 (80.7) | 128 (83.1) |
| Sulfasalazine (%) | 38 (19.8) | 25 (16.2) |
| Hydroxychloroquine (%) | 40 (20.8) | 40 (26.0) |
| Leflunomide (%) | 17 (8.8) | 12 (7.8) |
| Prednisolone (%) | 25 (13.0) | 22 14.3) |
| Biological DMARDs (%) | 17 (8.8) | 3 (1.9) |
| Opioid analgesics (%) | 43 (22.4) | 31 (20.1) |
| Baseline outcome scores, mean (SD) | ||
| HAQ (182; 149)* | 1.01 (0.75) | 0.98 (0.78) |
| EQ-5D-3L (183; 146)* | 0.635 (0.258) | 0.624 (0.307) |
*Figures in brackets refer to the number of completed forms for each group.
DMARDs, disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs; HAQ, Health Assessment Questionnaire; RA, rheumatoid arthritis.