Table 1

Characteristics of rheumatoid arthritis patients according to whether they received acupuncture treatment

VariableRheumatoid arthritisStandardised mean difference
Acupuncture treatment
No (n=11 613)Yes (n=11 613)
n%n%
Sex
Women949981.8947881.60.01
Men211418.2213518.40.01
Age group (years)
18–39183915.8158813.70.06
40–59668457.6733063.10.11
≥60309026.6269523.20.08
Mean±SD (years)54.9±14.554.8±13.20.01
Baseline comorbidity
Diabetes mellitus217618.7212618.30.01
Hypertension450738.8441638.00.02
Hyperlipidaemia326728.1327328.20.001
Congestive heart failure7416.387236.230.006
Depression125610.8124810.80.002
Anxiety288024.8284124.50.008
Alcoholism2081.792211.900.008
Tobacco use700.60770.660.008
Obesity1301.121351.160.004
Atrial fibrillation7416.387156.160.009
Drugs used
Oral steroid648955.6649555.90.001
NSAID882376.0888276.50.012
Statin55925.105935.110.000
Conventional DMARDs
Hydroxychloroquine567048.8566348.80.001
Sulfasalazine429537.0432337.20.005
Methotrexate90.08100.090.003
Leflunomide8677.478727.510.002
D-penicillamine1311.1312981.110.002
Azathioprine2081.792231.920.01
Mycophenolate50.0450.040.000
Cyclosporine5554.785444.680.004
Biological DMARDs
Etanercept6255.386295.420.002
Adalimumab1981.701931.660.003
Types of acupuncture
Manual acupuncture10 05086.5
Electroacupuncture4013.45
Combination of both types116210.0
Duration from rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis and index, days (mean, median)(1078.52, 795.0)(1065.18, 707.0)0.32
Acupuncture visits (mean, median)(9.83, 3.00)
  • DMARDs, disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs; NSAID, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug.