Table 1 Demographic details, rheumatoid arthritis characteristics, and laboratory values of 40 rheumatoid arthritis patients at first presentation

Male:female

13:27

Mean age (years)

53 (22–78)

Male mean age (years)

58 (37–78)

Female mean age (years)

51 (22–72)

Body mass index (kg/m²)

28 (17–45)

Rheumatoid arthritis characteristics

   Disease duration (months)

7 (1.0–12)

   Tender joint count (out of 53)

19 (14)

   Swollen joint count (out of 44)

16 (10)

   Patient's assessment of fatigue (visual analogue scale, maximum 100)

38 (28)

   Health assessment questionnaire score (maximum disability 24)

4.4 (4.5)

   Physician's global assessment of disease activity (maximum 100)

41 (26)

   Joint pain (visual analogue scale, maximum 100)

50 (31)

   Morning stiffness duration (min)

195 (358)

   Rheumatoid factor level

228 (302)

   Disease activity score (DAS 4v)

4.39 (1.6)

   Rheumatoid factor positive (n (%))

30 (75%)

Laboratory values

   Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (mm/hour)

36.5 (24)

   C-reactive protein (mg/l, normal <6)

25.5 (23)

   Haemoglobin (g/l)

131 (15)

   Cholesterol (mmol/l)

5.0 (1.0)

   Triglyceride (mmol/l)

1.4 (0.9)

   High-density lipoprotein level (mmol/l)

1.5 (0.4)

   Total high-density lipoprotein/cholesterol ratio (mmol/l)

3.6 (1.2)

   Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (mmol)

2.8 (0.7)

   Antinuclear antibody titre >1:160 (n (%))

28 (70%)