| Sequential monotherapy (n = 126) | Step-up combination therapy (n = 118) | |
| Age (years) | 54 (13) | 54 (13) |
| Female sex (%) | 68 | 72 |
| Time diagnosis inclusion (weeks), median (IQR) | 2 (1–5) | 2 (1–4) |
| Symptom duration (weeks), median (IQR) | 23 (14–54) | 26 (13–54) |
| IgM rheumatoid factor positive (%) | 67 | 64 |
| Body weight (kg) | 76 (14) | 75 (14) |
| NSAID use (%) | 89 | 84 |
| ESR (mm in 1st hour) | 48 (31) | 38 (25) |
| Tender joints | 15 (7.7) | 14 (6.6) |
| Swollen joints | 15 (6.6) | 15 (6.9) |
| DAS | 4.5 (0.9) | 4.4 (0.8) |
| HAQ (0–3) | 1.4 (0.7) | 1.4 (0.6) |
| Total Sharp score (0–448 scale), median (IQR) | 4 (2–10) | 5 (2–9) |
| Mean (SD) | 7 (10) | 6 (7) |
| Erosion score (0–280 scale), median (IQR) | 2 (0.5–5) | 2 (0.5–5) |
| Mean (SD) | 4 (6) | 4 (4) |
| Narrowing score (0–168 scale), median (IQR) | 1 (0–4) | 2 (0–5) |
| Mean (SD) | 3 (5) | 3 (3) |
| Erosions on hand/foot radiograph (%) | 73 | 72 |
IQR, interquartile range; NSAID, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug; ESR, erythrocyte sedimentation rate; DAS, disease activity score (44 joint count); HAQ, health assessment questionnaire. Values are given in mean (SD) if not indicated otherwise. When not normally distributed, medians and IQRs of variables are reported.