Characteristics of azathioprine (AZA) users versus non-AZA users
| AZA users | Non-AZA users | p Value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| N | 67 | 116 | |
| Age (year, mean±SEM) | 43±2 | 45±1 | 0.4553 |
| Ethnicity (n; %) (Asian:Caucasian:other*) | 29:32:6 43%:47%:10% | 61:22:33 53%:19%:28% | <0.0001 |
| ACR criteria (median (range)) | 5 (4–9) | 5 (4–9) | 0.5796 |
| Duration SLE | 10.09±0.8840 | 9.776±0.7368 | 0.7906 |
| Visits observed (n, median (IQR)) | 18 (9–26) | 9 (4–16) | <0.0001 |
| Period observed (days, median (IQR)) | 1316 (798–1701) | 889 (369–1545) | 0.0094 |
| Anti-dsDNA-positive | 54 (80.6%) | 77 (67.5%) | 0.0399 |
| Hypocomplementemia (n (%)) | 60 (89.5%) | 79 (68.1%) | 0.0011 |
| AMS (mean±SEM) | 5.23±0.29 | 3.82±0.31 | 0.0028 |
| SDI (median (range)) | 1 (0–12) | 1 (0–7) | 0.1422 |
| Corticosteroid use | 65 (97%) | 73 (63%) | <0.0001 |
| Adjusted mean prednisone dose (mg/day, mean±SEM) | 7.6±0.66 | 5.6±0.62 | 0.0386 |
| Hydroxychloroquine use | 65/67 (97%) | 104/116 (89.7%) | NS |
Data refer to period of observation recorded.
*Other—those identifying as ‘other’ or declining to be identified ethnically.
ACR, American College of Rheumatology; AMS, (time) adjusted mean SLEDAI; SLE, systemic lupus erythematosus; SLEDAI, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index.