From:  Association of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio with peripheral neuropathy in rheumatoid arthritis

 Baseline characteristics of the study cohort (n = 230).

CharacteristicsNeuropathy
(n = 93)
No neuropathy
(n = 137)
P value
Age, years (mean ± SD)56.2 ± 10.947.4 ± 12.8< 0.001
Female sex, n (%)74 (79.6)105 (76.6)0.60
Male sex, n (%)19 (20.4)32 (23.4)0.60
Disease duration, years (median, IQR)10.9 (6.0–16.0)5.1 (2.3–8.4)< 0.001
DAS28 (mean ± SD)5.7 ± 0.94.5 ± 1.0< 0.001
Seropositive (RF and/or anti-CCP), n (%)71 (76.3)84 (61.3)0.02
ESR, mm/h (mean ± SD)59.8 ± 18.144.2 ± 17.3< 0.001
CRP, mg/L (median, IQR)13.4 (7.0–24.1)6.8 (3.2–12.5)< 0.001
NLR (median, IQR)3.8 (2.7–5.0)2.3 (1.6–3.1)< 0.001
Treatment
Glucocorticoid use, n (%)58 (62.4)61 (44.5)0.006
Daily prednisolone equivalent dose, mg (median, IQR)7.5 (5–10)5.0 (2.5–7.5)< 0.001
Methotrexate use, n (%)63 (67.7)96 (70.1)0.70
Other non-biologic DMARDs, n (%)42 (45.2)54 (39.4)0.34
Biologic DMARDs, n (%)22 (23.7)31 (22.6)0.85
JAK inhibitors, n (%)12 (12.9)15 (10.9)0.64
NSAIDs, n (%)81 (87.1)115 (83.9)0.50

Continuous variables were compared using Student’s t-test (normally distributed) or Mann–Whitney U test (non-normal). Categorical variables were compared using the chi-square test. SD: standard deviation; IQR: interquartile range; DAS28: 28-joint Disease Activity Score; RF: rheumatoid factor; anti-CCP: anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide; ESR: erythrocyte sedimentation rate; CRP: C-reactive protein; NLR: neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio; DMARDs: disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs; JAK: Janus kinase; NSAIDs: non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.