Table 2

The two-level GEE analysis for risk factor of the HR of patients with RA in Hunan in 2019

Variables		OR	P value	95% CI
Variables		OR	P value	Lower	Upper
(Intercept)	216.868	–	<0.001	150.845	311.788
Gender
Female		1.036	0.213	0.848	1.151
Male		1
Age
16–18		0.089	<0.001	0.024	0.139
19–59		0.837	<0.001	0.742	0.913
≥60		1			.
Ethnic group
Han		4.482	<0.001	3.341	5.868
Ethnic minorities		1
Temperature		0.876	<0.001	0.785	0.983
Temperature range (°C)		1.459	<0.001	1.246	1.641
Rainfall (mm)		0.997	<0.001	0.996	0.999
Region
Non-Dongting		1
Dongting Lake		1.340	<0.001	1.145	1.511
PGDP		0.953	<0.001	0.936	0.983
Doctors (per 10 000 people)		0.965	<0.001	0.948	0.971
Hospitals (per 10 000 people)		1.167	<0.001	1.157	1.181

Estimated ORs were compared with the reference (OR=1) in each group.
GEE, generalised estimating equation; HR, hospitalisation rate; PGDP, per capita gross domestic product; RA, rheumatoid arthritis.