Effect of Moxibustion on HIF-1α and VEGF Levels in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Table 2

Clinical Symptoms and RA-associated serum markers.

Outcome measure	Treatment group (n = 20)	Control group (n = 17)	value
Clinical symptoms
VAS score, mean (SD)	3.10 (1.52)	5.88 (1.69)	<0.001^†
Morning stiffness score, mean (SD)	2.00 (1.30)	3.41 (1.37)	0.003^†
Tenderness index, mean (SD)	1.56 (0.30)	2.62 (0.26)	<0.001^†
Swelling index, mean (SD)	1.40 (0.38)	2.44 (0.38)	<0.001^†
DAS28 score, mean (SD)	4.92 (1.18)	6.32 (1.02)	0.001^†
RA-associated serum markers
ESR (mm/60 min), mean (SD)	37.20 (28.20)	38.53 (23.17)	0.831^△
CRP (mg/L), mean (SD)	5.61 (6.90)	6.83 (4.95)	0.070^△
RF (IU/ml), mean (SD)	120.15 (154.60)	158.38 (189.37)	0.392^△

^† value by independent samples t-test. ^△ value by Mann–Whitney U test.