Baseline characteristics
| Add-on (N=277) | Switch (N=276) | |
|---|---|---|
| Women, n (%) | 227 (81.9) | 217 (78.6) |
| Age (years), mean (SD) | 53.0 (13.4) | 53.6 (11.9) |
| Patients aged ≥65 years, n (%) | 53 (19.1) | 52 (18.8) |
| BMI, kg/m², mean (SD) | 26.3 (5.20) | 26.5 (5.14) |
| Duration of RA (years), mean (SD) | 8.2 (8.0) | 8.3 (8.4) |
| Categorical duration of RA (years), n (%): | ||
| <2 | 51 (18.4) | 66 (23.9) |
| ≥2 to <5 | 76 (27.4) | 68 (24.6) |
| ≥5 to <10 | 66 (23.8) | 63 (22.8) |
| ≥10 | 84 (30.3) | 79 (28.6) |
| Swollen joint count, mean (SD) | 14.4 (8.9) | 15.3 (10.2) |
| Tender joint count, mean (SD) | 25.8 (13.9) | 26.6 (15.2) |
| DAS28-ESR, mean (SD) | 6.33 (0.98) | 6.36 (1.00) |
| HAQ-DI, mean (SD) | 1.46 (0.65) | 1.48 (0.60) |
| Fatigue,* n (%) | 117 (75.0) | 110 (73.3) |
| Genant-modified Sharp score, mean (SD) | 30.8 (32.2) | 37.2 (40.6) |
| MTX dose, mg/week, mean (SD) | 16.1 (4.4) | 16.3 (4.2) |
| MTX dose, mg/week, median | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Number of previous DMARDs (including MTX prior to study entry), mean (SD) | 1.9 (1.1) | 1.9 (1.0) |
| Oral steroid use, n (%) | 140 (50.5) | 140 (50.7) |
| Rheumatoid factor positive,† n (%) | 55 (66.3) | 41 (64.1) |
| Anti-CCP positive,† n (%) | 68 (81.9) | 49 (76.6) |
*Assessed by the proportion of patients answering ‘yes’ to question 21 of the Rheumatoid Arthritis Quality of Life questionnaire (‘I feel tired whatever I do’).
†Of 147 patients (27%) with available retrospective data.
BMI, body mass index; CCP, anticyclic citrullinated peptide; DAS28-ESR, Disease Activity Score based on 28 joints-erythrocyte sedimentation rate; DMARD, disease-modifying antirheumatic drug; HAQ-DI, Health Assessment Questionnaire-disability index; MTX, methotrexate; PBO, placebo; RA, rheumatoid arthritis.