Demographic and clinical data of the patients
| ACR, American College of Rheumatology; DMARD, disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs; HAQ, Health Assessment Questionnaire; IP, inflammatory polyarthritis; RA, rheumatoid arthritis. | |
| *Based on 93% complete data. | |
| †Based on 94% complete data. | |
| ‡Based on 68% complete data. | |
| Age at IP onset, years, mean (SD) | 55 (16) |
| Sex: female (%) | 1410 (67) |
| Met cumulative ACR RA criteria after 5 years, yes (%) | 1239 (59) |
| Ever positive for rheumatoid factor, yes (%)* | 681 (35) |
| Smoking history at first assessment, current smoker (%)† | 521 (26) |
| Smoking history at first assessment, past (only) smoker (%)† | 772 (39) |
| Steroid use before first admission, ever (%) | 530 (25) |
| DMARD use before first admission, ever (%) | 979 (46) |
| Erosive joints, ever (%)‡ | 695 (48) |
| Initial HAQ, mean (SD) | 0.85 (0.74) |
| Fifth assessment HAQ, mean (SD) | 0.84 (0.71) |
| Mean HAQ, mean (SD) | 0.84 (0.72) |