Results

In our study 316 patients were questioned who presented with the
complaint of joint pain. The ages in the collected data were
computed in sets of decades, of which patients in 3 rd, 4th and 5th
decade of life were significantly affected viz., 19.9% (n=63),
35.8% (n= 113), 23.4% (n=74), respectively. Majority of these
people fell into the category of literate society 67.1% (n=212) in
comparison to the illiterate category 32.9% (n=104). After
computing the patients scores according to the diagnostic
guidelines of American College of Rheumatology (2010
ACR/EULAR Rheumatoid Arthritis Classification Criteria) 19, this
study showed that the higher percentage of population
approaching to the outpatient were mostly females diagnosed of
rheumatoid arthritis 26.9% (n=85) in contrast to males (n=25). Of
them, 83.2% patients were taking analgesics by self-medication
and 16.0% patients got immunosuppressive therapy. 7.9%
patients showed positive family history for rheumatoid arthritis.
An independent sample t-test was performed which showed the
difference in the occurrence of rheumatoid arthritis in both male
and female patients. This test was statistically significant (t=2.98,
p=0.002). Levenes test also showed significant figures
(F(233)=5.315, p=0.002). The results indicate females (M=4.41,
SD=1.50) having high rates of joint pain than males (M=3.86,
SD= 1.28). The difference in the mean between female and male
was 0.522 with a confidence interval of 95% ranged from 0.21 to
0.89, as shown in the Table 1.

Table 1
Independent Samples T-test (n = 316)

Females

Education
Level

Males

SD

SD

df

4.41

1.50

3.386

1.28

314

2.98

<.005

Scoring was also computed on every individual patient according

to the diagnostic guidelines of American College of Rheumatology
(2010 ACR/EULAR Rheumatoid Arthritis Classification Criteria).
This classification incorporates 4 components to be checked in
patients presenting with joint pain before labelling them as
rheumatoid arthritis patients. These components are joint
involvement, serology in which rheumatoid factor (RF) and Anticitrullinated protein antibody (ACPA) are interpreted, acute phase
reactants in which C- reactive protein (CRP) and Erythrocyte
Sedimentation Rate (ESR) are interpreted and duration of
symptoms. Scores from all 4 components were added to get final
score for every patient. Results indicated 28.8% (n=91) patients
with a total score of 7, 15.8% (n=50) patients with a total score of
9 and 10 each, 13.6% (n=43) patients with a total score of 8 and
9.5% (n=30) with total score of 6. According to this classification
criteria a total score of 6/10 is needed to classify a patient as
having definite rheumatoid arthritis, thus 83.5% (n=264) patients
were labelled to have rheumatoid arthritis. Important to note is
that 40.5% (n=128) patients were with the highest score (>10
joints (at least 1 small joint = 5) in the individual category of joint
involvement. 43.0% (n=136) patients had highest score (highpositive RF or high-positive ACPA = 3) in the individual category of
serology. 82.0% (n=259) patients had abnormal CRP or ESR
(score=1) in acute phase reactant category. 90.2% (n=285)
patients suffered symptoms for 6 weeks (score=1).