Table 1 Patient characteristics. Characteristics of the patients in relation to the presence of activity limitations

Background variables

Age (years)

52.7 (17.4) [18–90]

56.8 (17.1) [18–90]

46.2 (16.0) [21–87]

<0.0001

Females

89.6 %

90.6 %

88.0 %

n.s.

Caucasian ethnicity

92.5 %

92.9

92.0

n.s.

Disease duration (years)

13.4 (10.2) [0–48]

14.3 (11.3) [0–48]

12.0 (8.2) [0–38]

n.s.

Continuous medication

AM as only DMARD

40.6 %

41.0 %

40.0 %

n.s.

Other DMARD ± AM

29.7 %

30.8 %

28.0 %

n.s.

Glucocorticoids

58.9 %

70.9 %

40.0 %

<0.0001

Disease variables

Fulfilled ACR criteria (n)

4.6 (0.3) [3–9]

4.5 (1.2) [3–8]

4.7 (1.4) [3–9]

n.s.

1. Malar rash

43.2 %

47.0 %

37.3 %

n.s.

2. Discoid rash

16.1 %

20.5 %

9.3 %

0.04

3. Photosensitivity

52.6 %

54.7 %

49.3 %

n.s.

4. Oral ulcers

9.4 %

9.4 %

9.3 %

n.s.

5. Arthritis

76.6 %

76.9 %

76.0 %

n.s.

6. Serositis

39.1 %

36.8 %

42.7 %

n.s.

7. Renal disorder

20.8 %

17.1 %

26.7 %

n.s.

8. Neurologic disorder

4.2 %

4.3 %

4.0 %

n.s.

9. Hematologic disorder

51.6 %

42.7 %

65.3 %

0.002

10. Immunologic disorder

46.9 %

44.4 %

50.1 %

n.s.

11. Antinuclear antibody*

98.4 %

97.4 %

100 %

n.s.

SDI

1.4 (1.9) [0–8]

1.9 (2.1) [0–7]

0.79 (1.39) [0–8]

0.0001

SLEDAI-2 K

2.3 (3.3) [0–24]

2.3 (3.7) [0–24]

2.3 (2.7) [0–11]

n.s.

Modified SLEDAI**

1.0 (2.5) [0–20]

1.2 (2.9) [0–20]

0.81 (1.96) [0–10]

n.s.

Physician’s global assessment (PGA)

0.26 (0.55) [0–3]

0.29 (0.62) [0–3]

0.20 (0.43) [0–2]

n.s.

Self-reported measures

Pain intensity (mm)

29.0 (27.1) [0–100]

38.5 (27.0) [0–100]

13.0 (18.5) [0–73.2]

<0.0001

HAQ (0–3)****

0.44 (0.60) [0–3.0]

0.73 (0.62) [0.13–3.0]

0

EQ5D

0.67 (0.30) [−0.35–1]

0.56 (0.31) [−0.35–1]

0.84 (0.18) [0–1]

<0.0001

Well-being (mm)

29.8 (25.8) [0–100]

39.2 (24.7) [0–100]

13.6 (18.8) [0–74.2]

<0.0001