Table 1

Baseline demographic and clinical characteristics of the pooled study populations


Pooled population


Characteristic
Placebo (n = 209)
Esomeprazole 20 mg (n = 201)
Esomeprazole 40 mg (n = 194)

Male/female gender, percentage
27.3:72.7
21.4:78.6
24.2: 75.8
Age in years, mean (standard deviation)
57.1 (13.4)
54.4 (11.9)
55.7 (13.6)
Type of chronic condition, percentage



     Rheumatoid arthritis
24.4
18.4
20.6
     Osteoarthritis
43.1
45.3
42.8
     Other chronic condition
32.5
36.3
36.6
Time since first diagnosis of chronic condition in years, median
9
7
9
Helicobacter pylori status (histology), percentagea



     Negative
95.7
93.0
95.9
     Positive
3.3
6.5
3.1
     Unknown
1.0
0.5
1.0
NSAID type, percentage



     Non-selective
64.1
65.7
67.0
     Selective COX-2 inhibitor
35.9
34.3
33.0
Study drug in acute study, percentage



     Placebo
24.4
29.3
32.5
     Esomeprazole 20 mg
43.1
32.8
36.1
     Esomeprazole 40 mg
32.5
37.8
31.4

aH. pylori status derived from the acute studies (NASA1 [Nexium Anti-inflammatory Symptom Amelioration] and SPACE1 [Symptom Prevention by Acid Control with Esomeprazole]). COX-2, cyclo-oxygenase-2; NSAID, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug.

Hawkey et al. Arthritis Research & Therapy 2007 9:R17   doi:10.1186/ar2124