| Intensive strategy group, n = 151 | Conventional strategy group, n = 148 | |
| Women (%) | 104 (69) | 97 (66) |
| Age, years | 54 (14) | 53 (15) |
| ESR, mm/h1st | 36 (27) | 39 (25) |
| Morning stiffness, min | 87 (55) | 88 (54) |
| Number of swollen joints | 14 (6) | 14 (6) |
| Number of tender joints | 15 (7) | 14 (7) |
| VAS general well-being, mm | 54 (22) | 52 (23) |
| VAS pain, mm | 51 (26) | 47 (25) |
| Rheumatoid factor (% positive) | 89 (66) | 77 (62) |
| Functional ability, HAQ | 1.2 (0.7) | 1.2 (0.7) |
| Radiographic damage score | 1.6 (4.2) | 2.2 (5.3) |
ESR, erythrocyte sedimentation rate; VAS, visual analogue scale; HAQ, Health Assessment Questionnaire.
Data show mean (SD) for continuous data and number (%) for categorical data. Ranges of clinical variables are as follows: ESR (2–140 mm/h1st); morning stiffness (0–180 min); number of swollen and number of tender joints (0–38); both VAS scales (0–100 mm = worst score); functional ability (0–3 = worst score); radiographic damage score, modified Sharp/van der Heijde score (0–448). Rheumatoid factor was determined in 135 patients in the intensive strategy group and in 124 patients in the conventional strategy group.