High prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis and its risk factors among Tibetan highlanders living in Tsarang, Mustang district of Nepal

Table 2 Anthropometric and biochemical characteristics by sex

Variables	Male (n = 27)	Female (n = 50)	p value
Variables	Mean ± SD	Mean ± SD	p value
Age (years)	53.5 ± 11.3	51.2 ± 11.8	0.3981
BMI (kg/m²)	23.8 ± 3.1	23.7 ± 4.2	0.9017
SBP (mmHg)	135.7 ± 26.2	116.4 ± 22.6	0.0023
DBP (mmHg)	84.6 ± 13.4	78.3 ± 13.1	0.0517
Hemoglobin (g/dL)	13.9 ± 1.9	14.4 ± 2.2	0.3839
SpO_{2 (%)}	89.2 ± 3.2	88.6 ± 5.1	0.5616

Data were analyzed by Welch’s t tests for comparison of variables between males and females
a. Data from 1 female participant did not include BMI, SBP, DBP, or SpO₂
b. Hemoglobin could not be measured for 5 male participants and 2 female participants due to severe deformation of finger joints or machine troubles

ISSN: 1880-6805