Table 5

Strength of the recommendations

Recommendations		No of studies	Level of	Strength of
Recommendations		evaluated	evidence	recommendation
NSAID, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug.
1 Early referral		35	Ib	B
2 Diagnosis of early synovitis		30	IIb	C
3 Minimum diagnostic procedure		_	_	D
4 Prediction of persistent and erosive arthritis		45	III	C
5 Early treatment start		27	Ia	A
6 Patient information		26	Ia/Ib	B
7 NSAIDs		11	Ia	B
8 Systemic and intra-articular glucocorticoids		21	Ia	A
9 Methotrexate is the anchor drug		24	Ia	A
10 Treatment strategies		22	Ib	B
11 Non-pharmaceutical interventions		32	Ia	B
12 Regular monitoring		11	Ia	A