Gender-specific impact of follow-up intervals on disease control in rheumatoid arthritis: a nationwide analysis of 15 835 Chinese patients
Authors' conclusion
This large-scale study revealed gender-dimorphic patterns in RA progression and health-care engagement. Females tended to exhibit better treatment response, with a more pronounced interval-dependent disease control trend. No significant interval-gender interaction confirmed this was a descriptive trend, not a validated gender-specific difference.
Study context
- Population
- RA patients aged ≥18 years, 330 rheumatology centres in China, July-September 2023330 rheumatology centres
- Participants
- 13,278 vs 2,557
- Exposure
- Female vs male RA patients; follow-up intervals and disease control
- Femalen = 13,278
- Malen = 2,557reference
- Outcome
- Association of follow-up intervals with poor disease control (Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI) > 10), by gender
Methodological detailsnationwide survey, multicentre (330 rheumatology centres), standardized questionnaires
- Nationwide survey
- Multicentre (330 rheumatology centres)
- Standardized questionnaires
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
- No significant follow-up interval - gender interaction on disease activity (generalized linear model)
- all P > 0.20
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Age at disease onset
P < 0.001
Disease duration
P < 0.001
Low disease activity/clinical remission rate
P < 0.001
GC use
P < 0.001
High disease activity risk with regular monitoring, across genders
| OR (95% CI) | P value | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular monitoring | 0.64 (0.56–0.74) | P < 0.001 | |
| 0.512Odds ratio (log scale) |
Self-reported regular follow-up rates
- Similar in both genders (females vs males)
- 84.73% vs 83.14%
Suboptimal visit intervals (>3 months)
- Both genders experienced suboptimal visit intervals (females vs males)
- 61.30% vs 62.65%, P < 0.001
Follow-up interval–gender interaction on disease activity (generalized linear model)
- No significant interaction
- all P > 0.20
Original publication
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