Table 1

Baseline demographic and clinical characteristics of treatment groups


Topical diclofenac (n = 107)
Vehicle control (n = 109)

Age (years)
65.0 (11.0)
64.6 (10.9)
Women, number (%)
56 (52.3)
66 (60.6)
Race/ethnicity, number (%)


     White
88 (82.2)
91 (83.5)
     Black
8 (7.5)
3 (2.8)
     Oriental
3 (2.8)
2 (1.8)
     Other
8 (7.5)
13 (11.9)
Weight (kg)
89.9 (18.1)
86.5 (17.3)
Height (m)
1.65 (0.11)
1.65 (0.10)
Heart rate (bpm)
74.1 (10.0)
74.3 (9.1)
Systolic blood pressure (mm Hg)
137.6 (16.3)
133.6 (15.6)
Diastolic blood pressure (mm Hg)
81.4 (9.1)
79.7 (8.7)
Total x-ray score*
7.7 (5.4)
7.0 (5.0)
Screening pain score
8.2 (2.7)
8.3 (3.0)
Baselinepain score
13.0 (3.2)
12.8 (3.1)
Baselinephysical function score
40.7 (11.9)
40.4 (11.2)
Baselinestiffness score
5.2 (1.5)
5.2 (1.5)
Patient global assessment score‡
3.1 (0.8)
3.2 (0.8)
Participants treating two knees at baseline, number (%)
64 (59.8)
70 (64.2)
Participants treating two knees at final, number (%)
84 (78.5)
89 (81.7)

Data are presented as mean (SD) unless otherwise indicated.

*Total score of joint space narrowing, marginal osteophytes formation and subchondrial sclerosis for each knee compartment (medial, lateral, patello-femoral); maximum score possible was 27.

†After washout of prior therapy; pain scale ranged from 0 (no pain) to 20 (extreme pain); physical function scale ranged from 0 (no difficulty) to 68 (extreme difficulty); stiffness scale ranged from 0 (no stiffness) to 8 (extreme stiffness).

‡Patient global assessment was measured using a Likert scale, ranging from 0 (very good) to 4 (very poor).

Baer et al. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders 2005 6:44   doi:10.1186/1471-2474-6-44