Baseline Comorbidities in a Population-Based Cohort of Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients Receiving Biological Therapy: Data from the Australian Rheumatology Association Database
Table 2
Baseline demographic and disease characteristics of the ARAD RA cohort (n = 624)*.
Mean (SD)
Age (years)
57.0 (12.5)
Duration of RA (symptoms), years
16.0 (11.0)
Duration of RA (since diagnosis), years
14.4 (10.2)
ESR (mm/hr)
35.8 (26.8)
CRP (mg/L)
33.7 (38.2)
PBS tender/swollen joint count#
23 (12)
Overall pain due to arthritis in last week (0–100)
44.0 (25.8)
Overall patient global impression of disease activity in the last week (0–100)
42.0 (25.3)
Mean (SD) HAQ score (0–3, 0 no = disability)
1.8 (0.72)
Mean (SD) AQoL score (0-1, 1 = full health)
0.42 (0.24)
SF-36 score (0–100, 100 = perfect health)
Physical component
28.05 (9.88)
Mental component
43.66 (12.57)
EuroQoL (UK weights) (0-1, 1 = perfect health)
0.46 (0.32)
N (%)
Female
449 (72)
Smoking history
Current
101 (16.2)
Past
266 (42.6)
Never
257 (41.2)
Alcohol consumption
Never
178 (28.9)
Sometimes
373 (60.7)
Every day
64 (10.4)
At least one concomitant DMARDs
572 (91.7)
Methotrexate (oral or IM)
375 (60.1)
Salazopyrin
73 (11.7)
Leflunomide
166 (26.6)
Hydroxychloroquine
115 (18.4)
Cyclosporin
16 (2.6)
Azathioprine
9 (1.4)
Gold
8 (1.3)
Penicillamine
4 (0.6)
Currently taking prednisolone or prednisone
420 (67.3)
slightly different for some variables.#Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) definition (see Table 1).
