title: The influence of sex on patients with rheumatoid arthritis in a large observational cohort.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the sex differences of various components of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
  
  
  METHODS
  Data of 4823 patients from a large observational cohort study were analyzed. Remarkable differences were noted between the sexes, and overall, women had significantly higher disease activity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  When variables were adjusted using sex, age, and duration, Health Assessment Questionnaire, rather than Disease Activity Score, contributed most to sex difference. Further analysis showed evidence that progression of disability was approximately 3 times more rapid in female patients compared to male patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Women overall have higher RA disease activity and are prone to greater and faster progression of disability over time.
authors.affiliation: University of California, Los Angeles, Department of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA. niikuni@mednet.ucla.edu
authors.forename: Noriko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Iikuni
authors.forename: Eri
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: Masaya
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hoshi
authors.forename: Eisuke
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Inoue
authors.forename: Atsuo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Taniguchi
authors.forename: Masako
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hara
authors.forename: Taisuke
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tomatsu
authors.forename: Naoyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kamatani
authors.forename: Hisashi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yamanaka
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019370:Observation; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors