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Table 1 Demographics and clinical and laboratory characteristics of the glucocorticoid exposure groups

From: Lack of association between glucocorticoid use and presence of the metabolic syndrome in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a cross-sectional study

 

NE (n = 281)

LE (n = 58)

ME (n = 59)

P value

General demographics

    

   Age, years

62 (53.03–68.56)

66.01 (59–71.47)

66.6 (60.7–71.6)

0.002

   Gender female, number (percentage)

214 (76.2)

41 (70.7)

36 (61)

0.053

RA characteristics

    

   RF-positive, number (percentage)

210 (76.4)

42 (73.7)

43 (75.4)

0.909

   Anti-CCP-positive, number (percentage)

181 (67.5)

36 (63.2)

41 (73.2)

0.517

   Disease duration, years

7 (3–15)

16 (10–25.5)

18 (10–39)

<0.001

Disease activity

    

   CRP, mg/L

8 (5–18)

8 (5–17)

9 (5–28)

0.421

   ESR, mm/h

20 (10–38)

15.5 (6.75–29.25)

26 (12–45)

0.031

   DAS-28

4.15 ± 1.38

4.09 ± 1.37

4.59 ± 1.47

0.080

Disease severity

    

   HAQ

1.38 (0.5–2)

1.63 (0.72–2.16)

2.13 (1.63–2.5)

<0.001

   Extra-articular disease, number (percentage)

180 (64.1)

42 (72.4)

45 (76.3)

0.124

   Joint replacement surgery, number (percentage)

65 (23.1)

21 (36.2)

29 (49.2)

<0.001

Medications

    

   Methotrexate, number (percentage)

161 (57.3)

35 (60.3)

28 (47.5)

0.305

   Sulphasalazine, number (percentage)

96 (34.2)

11 (19)

11 (18.6)

0.009

   Hydroxychloroquine, number (percentage)

57 (20.3)

13 (22.4)

10 (16.9)

0.754

   Leflunomide, number (percentage)

11 (3.9)

1 (1.7)

4 (6.8)

0.374

   Anti-TNF, number (percentage)

29 (10.3)

9 (15.5)

7 (11.9)

0.518

   NSAIDS/COX II, number (percentage)

82 (29.2)

15 (25.9)

13 (22)

0.508

Risk factors for the MetS

    

   Waist, cm

97.12 ± 12.39

97.35 ± 14.3

100.9 ± 15.19

0.172

   Trigylcerides, mmol/L

1.2 (0.9–1.6)

1.2 (0.9–1.63)

1.4 (1.1–1.8)

0.010

   Systolic blood pressure, mm Hg

140 (126.25–150)

142 (125.75–159)

145 (135–160)

0.022

   Diastolic blood pressure, mm Hg

78.66 ± 10.85

79.97 ± 10.82

79.06 ± 13.06

0.716

   HDL, mmol/L

1.5 (1.2–1.8)

1.7 (1.38–2.03)

1.7 (1.4–2)

0.011

   LDL, mmol/L

5.2 ± 1.07

5.31 ± 1.27

5.25 ± 1.54

0.798

Criteria for MetS

    

   Waist M, number (percentage)

163 (65.2)

32 (65.3)

36 (69.2)

0.853

   Triglycerides M, number (percentage)

96 (34.2)

24 (41.4)

31 (52.5)

0.026

   Hypertension M, number (percentage)

220 (78.3)

45 (77.6)

55 (93.2)

0.027

   HDL M, number (percentage)

94 (33.5)

20 (34.5)

24 (40.7)

0.570

   Fasting plasma glucose M, number (percentage)

38 (13.5)

9 (15.8)

14 (24.1)

0.125

Patients fulfilling criteria of MetS

    

   NCEP, number (percentage)

105 (37.9)

22 (40.7)

28 (50.0)

0.241

  1. Results expressed as number (percentage), median (25th–75th percentile), or mean ± standard deviation, as appropriate. Anti-CCP, anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide; anti-TNF, anti-tumour necrosis factor therapy; CRP, C-reactive protein; HAQ, health assessment questionnaire; DAS-28, 28-joint disease activity score; ESR, erythrocyte sedimentation rate; Triglycerides M, triglycerides of at least 1.7 mmol/L or on drug treatment for elevated triglycerides; Waist M, waist circumference of greater than 102 cm in males and greater than 88 cm in females. Fasting plasma glucose M, fasting plasma glucose of at least 6.1 mmol/L or on drug treatment for elevated blood glucose; HDL, high-density lipoprotein; HDL M, high-density lipoprotein level of less than 1.0 mmol/L in males or less than 1.3 mmol/L in females or on drug treatment for low HDL; Hypertension M, systolic blood pressure of at least 130/85 mm Hg or on antihypertensive medication; LDL, low-density lipoprotein; LE, low-dose/long-term exposure; ME, moderate-dose/long-term exposure; MetS, metabolic syndrome; NCEP, National Cholesterol Education Programme; NE, none/limited exposure; NSAIDs/COX II, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs/cyclooxygenase II inhibitors; RA, rheumatoid arthritis; RF, rheumatoid factor;
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Arthritis Research & Therapy

ISSN: 1478-6362

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