ResultsIn 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 3rd, 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 1Independent Samples T-test (n = 316)FemalesMales

MSDMSDdftp

Education Level4.411.503.3861.283142.9810 joints (at least 1 small joint = 5) in the individual category of joint involvement. 43.0% (n=136) patients had highest score (high-positive RForhigh-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).