Table 2 Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR)-related characteristics of responders

Median (IQR) pain score (NRS)

8 (7, 9)

8 (7, 10)

8 (7, 9)

0.0005

Median (IQR) stiffness score (NRS)

8 (7, 9)

8 (7, 9)

8 (6, 9)

0.0049

Times of day when stiffness present (n, %)^a

 None

15 (2.3)

10 (2.5)

5 (2.0)

0.724

 Morning

619 (95.2)

387 (95.6)

232 (94.7)

0.617

 Lunchtime

368 (56.6)

227 (56.1)

141 (57.6)

0.708

 Afternoon

357 (54.9)

219 (54.1)

138 (56.3)

0.576

 Early evening

394 (60.6)

257 (63.5)

137 (55.9)

0.057

 Late evening

446 (68.6)

288 (71.1)

158 (64.5)

0.078

 During the night

467 (71.9)

302 (74.6)

165 (67.4)

0.047

Duration of morning stiffness (n, %)

0.491

 None

12 (1.9)

8 (2.0)

4 (1.7)

 1–15 minutes

31 (4.9)

16 (4.0)

15 (6.3)

 16–45 minutes

69 (10.8)

41 (10.3)

28 (11.7)

 46–60 minutes

72 (11.3)

50 (12.6)

22 (9.2)

  > 1 hour

454 (71.2)

283 (71.1)

171 (71.3)

Able to raise both arms above head when first saw GP (n, %)

0.101

 Yes

186 (28.8)

107 (26.6)

79 (32.5)

 No

413 (64.0)

261 (64.9)

152 (62.6)

 Don’t know

46 (7.1)

34 (8.5)

12 (4.9)

Use of prednisolone (n, %)

0.484

 Yes

626 (96.9)

390 (96.5)

236 (97.5)

 No

20 (3.1)

14 (3.5)

6 (2.5)

Other medications for PMR (n, %)^a

 Paracetamol

248 (37.9)

176 (43.2)

72 (29.2)

<0.0001

 Paracetamol and codeine

137 (21.0)

96 (23.6)

41 (16.6)

0.033

 Non-steroidal anti-inflammatories

69 (10.6)

44 (10.8)

25 (10.1)

0.781

 Strong prescription painkillers

86 (13.2)

62 (15.2)

24 (9.7)

0.043

 Gastro-protection

332 (50.8)

210 (51.6)

122 (49.4)

0.585

 Calcium and vitamin D

304 (46.5)

199 (48.9)

105 (42.5)

0.113

 Osteoporosis treatments

170 (26.0)

119 (29.2)

51 (20.7)

0.015

 Alternative therapies

26 (4.0)

20 (4.9)

6 (2.4)

0.115

 Anti-depressants

55 (8.4)

47 (11.6)

8 (3.2)

<0.0001

 Other

100 (15.3)

55 (13.5)

45 (18.2)

0.105