Association between socioeconomic status and patient delay in rheumatoid arthritis: linking self-reported and national registry data
Authors' conclusion
Educational level showed the strongest socioeconomic association with patient delay.
Study context
- Population
- People newly diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), Danish Rheumatology Database linked to national registries
- Exposure
- Socioeconomic status (SES) strata
- Outcome
- Patient delay: self-reported time from symptom onset to first general practitioner (GP) contact
Methodological detailsregistry linkage, questionnaire-based, multiple logistic regression
- Registry linkage
- Questionnaire-based
- Multiple logistic regression
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Patient delay (longer delay) by SES
Each group vs high educationAdjusted odds ratio (CI)
Medium educationlonger delay
1.96(1.01–3.79)
Low occupational statustendency towards longer delay
1.58(0.47–5.33)
- Median patient delay overall
- 59 days (IQR 15-182)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Other factors associated with delay
- Delays longer among younger patients, those without comorbidities, and those with lower disease activity
Nonresponse analysis
- Significantly lower SES among nonresponders
Original publication
Association between socioeconomic status and patient delay in rheumatoid arthritis: linking self-reported and national registry data. Ann Rheum Dis. Published 29 October 2025. doi:10.
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