Table 2

Patient characteristics per strata of non-specific ST-T abnormalities

Non-specific ST-T abnormalities in SLE (n=50)Non-specific ST-T abnormalities in RA (n=139)
Present (n=22)Absent (n=28)p ValuePresent (n=24)Absent (n=115)p Value
Age, years41.0±1532.8±90.0361±859±80.29
Female sex, n (%)20 (91%)26 (93%)0.8010 (42%)75 (65%)0.03
Race/ethnicity
 White, n (%)2 (9%)00.1920 (83%)101 (88%)0.52
 Hispanic, n (%)16 (73%)21 (78%)0.6801 (1%)0.65
 Black, n (%)4 (40%)7 (60%)0.7301 (100%)0.65
Disease duration, years5 (3–10)2.5 (0.5–8)0.287 (4–14)9 (4–16)0.70
SLEDAI-2K3 (0–10)6 (2–12)0.09
Lupus nephritis, n (%)12 (54%)10 (36%)0.18
APS, n (%)1 (4%)2(7%)1.0
DAS283.4±0.93.7±10.44
CRP, mg/L10.5 (1.3–42.5)*3.0 (0.6–24.8)†0.222.2 (1.1–7.5)2.1 (1–5.7)0.93
IL-6, pg/mL3.1 (1.8–7)3.6 (1.5–7.7)0.87
Antimalarials, n (%)17 (77%)12 (54%)0.085 (21%)18 (16%)0.54
MMF, n (%)11 (50%)10 (36%)0.31
AZA, n (%)2 (9%)3 (11%)1.0
Non-biologic DMARD, n (%)22 (92%)95 (83%)0.53
Biologic DMARD, n (%)8 (33%)58 (51%)0.12
Glucocorticoids, n (%)11 (50%)16 (57%)0.619 (37%)41 (36%)0.86
ds-DNA, antibody, n (%)18 (82%)23 (82%)1.0
SSA/anti-Ro, n (%)11 (50%)17 (61%)0.73
SSB/anti-La, n (%)5 (23%)11 (39%)0.31
Sm antibody, n (%)10 (21%)14 (50%)0.87
RNP antibody, n (%)12 (54%)17 (61%)0.68
RF>40 units, n (%)16 (67%)69 (60%)0.54
Anti-CCP>60 units, n (%)14 (58%)80 (70%)0.26
Hypertension, n (%)9 (41%)9 (32%)0.5610 (42%)46 (40%)0.88
Diabetes, n (%)2 (9%)1 (4%)0.572 (8%)8 (7%)0.68
Current smoking, n (%)7 (32%)5 (18%)0.252 (8%)11 (10%)1.0
Aspirin, n (%)3 (14%)5 (18%)1.06 (25%)38 (33%)0.44
Statin, n (%)3 (14%)2 (7%)0.646 (25%)17 (15%)0.22
QT-modifying medication, n (%)6 (27%)10 (36%)0.523 (12%)21 (18%)0.77
QTc, ms465±48469±340.73452±37442±320.21
  • Characteristics are expressed as n (%), as the mean±SD or as the median (IQR).

  • *Moderate–severe disease activity is defined as SLEDAI-2K >6 or DAS28 CRP >3.2. n=18.

  • †n=22.

  • Anti-CCP, anticitrullinated cyclic peptide; APS, antiphospholipid antibody syndrome; AZA, azathioprine; CRP, C reactive protein; DAS28, Disease Activity Score in 28 joints; DMARD, disease-modifying antirheumatic drug; IL-6, interleukin 6; MMF, mycophenolate mofetil; QTc, corrected QT-interval; RA, rheumatoid arthritis; RF, rheumatoid factor; SLE, systemic lupus erythematosus; SLEDAI-2K, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index 2000.