Table 1 Baseline characteristics of the 136 knee osteoarthritic patients receiving gold using HA. Values are median and range; and mean and 95% CI. Scores on the Kellgren–Lawrence scale range from 0 to 4, with a score of 1, 2, 3, or 4 indicating definite osteoarthritis and higher scores indicating more severe disease

Female/Male sex

70/66

Age–year

62 (28-91); 62 (39.1-85.3)

Body mass index

27.6 (18-42.9); 27.8 (17.6-38.1)

No MRI or clinical sign of effusion

22

Anti-inflammatory treatment

7

Multisite musculoskeletal pain

111

 Both knee OA

46

 Low back pain

36

 Hip OA

21

 Rotator cuff pain

8

 Generalized OA

6

 Fibromyalgia

4

Kellgren-Lawrence Score

 I

15

 II

32

 III

81

 IV

18

Womac Scores

 Pain

9 (1-18); 9.3 (2.7-15.8)

 Stiffness

5 (0-10); 4.4 (0.33-8.5)

 Activity

30 (1-51); 27.5 (5.12-49.8)

Pain evaluation

 PDQ

10 (0-35); 10.5 (-2.7-23.6)

 No < 13

92

 No ≥ 13

44