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Table 1 Baseline characteristics of subjects in placebo and active-drug arms of a trial of interferon-β-1a in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

From: A randomized, controlled trial of interferon-β-1a (Avonex®) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a pilot study [ISRCTN03626626]

Characteristic

Placebo (n = 6)

Drug (n = 16)

P valuea

Mean age (range)

53 (39–69)

54 (35–72)

0.80

Women (%)

6 (100)

13 (81)

0.53

Mean weight in pounds (range)

157 (109–211)

164 (117–289)

0.62

Mean number of tender joints (range)

25 (14–41)

20 (8–45)

0.40

Mean number of swollen joints (range)

19 (6–40)

16 (7–34)

0.68

Mean HAQ Disability Index (0–3) (SD)

1.45 (0.53)

1.36 (0.72)

0.76

Mean C-reactive protein (SD)

1.6(1.1)

2.4 (1.7)

0.31

Mean physician's global assessment (0–10) (SD)

5.8(2.2)

5.6 (2.0)

0.85

Mean patient's global self assessment (0–10) (SD)

5.6 (2.5)

5.9 (2.7)

0.87

Mean pain VAS (0–10) (SD)

5.8 (1.2)

5.8 (2.6)

0.97

Number of patients on DMARDS (%)

2 (33%)

13 (81%)

0.05

Number of patients on NSAIDs (%)

2 (33%)

12 (75%)

0.09

Mean number of DMARDS (range)

1.3 (0–3)

0.9 (0–2)

0.37

Number of patients on prednisone

4 (67%)

12 (75%)

0.54

Mean dose (mg) of prednisone (range)

4.7 (0–10)

5.2 (0–10)

0.82

Baseline disease duration (years) (range)

10.1 (0.2–29.4)

14.2 (0.4–33.8)

0.38

  1. aP values are for one-tailed t-tests and Fisher's exact test, as appropriate. DMARD, disease-modifying antirheumatic drug; HAQ, Health Assessment Questionnaire; NSAID, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug; SD, standard deviation; VAS, Visual Analog Scale.