Demographic, Clinical Profile of Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients and Their Association with Disease Severity in Ghana

Table 7

Association of the characteristics and disease severity.

Characteristic	Not severe (53), (%)	Severe (3), (%)	value
Ages (years)			0.174
<30	2 (3.8)	1 (33.3)
30-40	10 (18.9)	1 (33.3)
41-50	11 (20.8)	0 (0.0)
51-60	16 (30.2)	1 (33.3)
>60	14 (26.4)	0 (0.0)
Gender			0.452
Males	9 (17.0)	1 (33.3)
Females	44 (83.0)	2 (66.7)
Marital status			0.041
Single	17 (32.1)	3 (100)
Married	36 (67.9)	0 (0.0)
Employment status			0.530
Unemployed	8 (15.1)	0 (0.0)
Formal	9 (17.0)	0 (0.0)
Informal	30 (56.6)	3 (100)
Retired	6 (11.3)	0 (0.0)
Education			0.719
Noneducated	2 (3.8)	0 (0.0)
Primary	14 (26.4)	0 (0.0)
Secondary	27 (50.9)	2 (66.7)
Tertiary	10 (18.9)	1 (33.3)
Smoking			0.946
Yes	1 (1.9)	0 (0.0)
No	52 (98.1)	3 (100)
Cardiovascular disease			0.797
Yes	4 (7.5)	0 (0.0)
No	49 (92.5)	3 (100)
B.M.I (kg/m^2)			0.526
Underweight	2 (3.8)	0 (0.0)
Healthy	11 (20.8)	0 (0.0)
Overweight	15 (28.3)	2 (66.7)
Obese	25 (47.2)	1 (33.3)
ESR (mm/h)			0.330
Normal	17 (32.1)	0 (0.0)
Elevated	36 (67.9)	3 (100)
HB (g/dL)			0.582
Anaemic	0 (0.0)	0 (0.0)
Mild anaemia	29 (54.7)	2 (66.7)
Normal	24 (45.3)	1 (33.3)
RF			0.288
Negative	18 (34.0)	2 (66.7)
Positive	35 (66.0)	1 (33.3)
Disease duration (months)			0.040
<6 months	2 (3.8)	0 (0.0)
6-10 months	1 (1.9)	1 (33.3)
11-15 months	4 (7.5)	0 (0.0)
>15 months	46 (86.8)	2 (66.7)
MHAQ
Normal	32 (60.4)	1 (33.3)
Moderate	18 (34.0)	1 (33.3)
Severe	3 (5.7)	1 (33.3)
Family history of RA			0.019
Yes	3 (5.7)	2 (66.7)
No	50 (94.3)	1 (33.3)
Pain			0.615
Yes	39 (73.6)	2 (66.7)
No	14 (26.4)	1 (33.3)
Swelling			0.095
Yes	44 (83.0)	1 (33.3)
No	9 (17.0)	2 (66.7)

MHAQ: modified health assessment questionnaire.