Table 2 Epidemiological features in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and healthy control (HC) subjects according to nasal carriage status

Nasal SA carrier prevalence (%)

21.4

28.6

NS

Male/female, n

SA-positive

1/17

32/12

SA-negative

5/61

77/33

NS

Mean age ± SD (years)

SA-positive

40.9 ± 11.8

38.7 ± 12.6

NS

SA-negative

41.3 ± 12.4

41.6 ± 8.9

Mean disease duration ± SD (months)

SA-positive

150.0 ± 107.1

-

NS

SA-negative

139.6 ± 103.6

-