Table 1 Clinical and demographic characteristics of survey and interview participants

Variable

Category

Number (%)

Number (%)

Primary diagnosis

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

42 (32.8)

7 (13.6)

Rheumatoid Arthritis

23 (18)

3 (31.8)

Vasculitis

23 (18)

6 (27.3)

Non-specific inflammatory arthritis/connective tissue disease

18 (14.1)

4 (18.2)

Idiopathic Juvenile Arthritis

9 (7)

1 (4.5)

Psoriatic Arthritis

7 (5.5)

1 (4.5)

Other ARD

6 (4.7)

0 (0)

Duration of illness

Up to 1 year

6 (4.7)

2 (9.1)

1 to 5 years

41 (32)

6 (27.3)

More than 5 years

79 (61.7)

14 (63.6)

Missing data

2 (1.6)

0 (0)

Family situation: (number and % responding ‘yes’)

Have children already

71 (55.5)

13 (59.1)

Thinking about getting pregnant in the next five years

77 (60.2)

7 (31.8)

Currently trying to get pregnant

9 (7)

2 (9.1)

Currently pregnant

8 (6.3)

2 (9.1)

Have been pregnant in the last 5 years

63 (49.2)

11 (50)

Education

Have a university degree

71 (55.5)

16 (72.7)

Employment status

Full time paid work

51 (39.8)

8 (36.4)

Part time paid work

38 (29.7)

11 (50)

Unemployed & seeking work

4 (3.1)

0 (0)

Not employed & currently not seeking work

25 (19.5)

2 (9.1)

In full or part time education

6 (4.7)

1 (4.5)

Rather not say

4 (3.1)

0 (0)

Relationships

Married, civil partnership, or living together

107 (83.6)

18 (81.8)

Other

21 (16.4)

4 (12.2)

Missing data

2 (1.6)

1 (4.5)

Ethnic group

British, English, Welsh, Scottish, or Irish

114 (89)

19 (86.4)

Other: non-European

12 (9.4)

2 (9.1)

Other: European

2 (1.6)

0 (0)

Missing data

1 (0.8)

1 (4.5)

Mean (SD)

Mean (SD)

Age

Range: 21 to 48 years

32.75 (6.1)

33.86 (5.3)

Disease-related Quality of Life (AIMS2-SF normalised scores)

Physical

3.52 (1.8)

2.56 (1.38)

Symptoms

5.41 (3.22)

4.24 (3.51)

Affect

4.57 (2.4)

4.12 (2.42)

Social

5.74 (1.76)

6.02(1.64)

Role

7.79 (3.0)

7.29 (2.80)