Clinical Characteristics in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis: Differences Between Genders

Overview

Journal ScientificWorldJournal

Publisher Wiley

Specialty Biology

Date 2019 Jul 30

PMID 31354388

Citations 20

Authors

M Intriago

G Maldonado

J Cardenas

C Rios

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objective: To compare the clinical characteristics of a group of men and women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and determine the differences between genders.

Materials And Methods: A descriptive and comparative cross-sectional study was developed with a group of 50 men and a control group of 50 women with RA, from a rheumatology center in the city of Guayaquil, Ecuador. Data collected included clinical manifestations, comorbidities, treatment, and disease activity. Clinical and activity differences between sexes were analyzed.

Results: Women were more devoted to housework (66%), while men consumed more tobacco (34%) and alcohol (38%). Fatigue (60%), loss of appetite (54%), and weight loss (44%) were more common in women. No differences were found in comorbidities or treatment. Women had higher values of DAS-28 (3.4 vs 2.5), HAQ-DI (1.1 vs 0.4), ESR (33.0 vs 23.2), painful joints (8 vs 3), swollen joints (6 vs 2), and overall physician assessment (3 vs 2).

Conclusion: The results are similar to other publications that establish that women have a more aggressive disease with greater activity of the disease and disability.

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