Table 1 Baseline characteristics of RA patients and controls

Female sex, n (%)

39 (71)

39 (71)

1.00

Age, years

53 ± 10

54 ± 11

0.70

Hypertension, n(%)

4 (7)

9 (16)

0.24

Diabetes, n(%)

0

3 (5)

-

Hyperlipidaemia, n(%)

11 (20)

9 (16)

0.75

BMI, kg/m2

24 ± 4

26 ± 4

0.06

Methotrexate, n(%)

N/A

50 (91)

-

Chloroquine, n(%)

N/A

30 (55)

-

Leflunomide, n(%)

N/A

10 (18)

-

Sulfasalazine, n(%)

N/A

8 (15)

-

Rituximab, n(%)

N/A

3 (5)

-

Prednisolone, n(%)

N/A

5 (9)

-

DAS28-CRP

N/A

3.4 ± 1.4

-

ESR, mm/hr (median, IQR)

N/A

13 (8-17)

-

CRP, mg/L (median, IQR)

1 (1-2)

10 (5-16)

<0.001

Duration of RA, years (median, IQR)

N/A

9 (5-13)

-

Duration of DMARDs, years (median, IQR)

N/A

6 (3-8)

-

RF positive, n (%)

N/A

45 (82)

-

ACCP positive, n (%)

N/A

38 (69)

-