| MTX (n = 161) | No MTX (n = 100) | p Value | |
| Age; years | 48.2 (38.6–53.9) | 46.0 (36.4–58.5) | 0.99 |
| Male; % (n) | 52.2% (84) | 45.0% (45) | 0.07 |
| Disease duration; years | 7.9 (3.7–15.0) | 9.4 (4.2–17.8) | 0.29 |
| Spondylitis only (n) (133; 81)* | 6.0% (8) | 6.2% (5) | 0.96 |
| Peripheral arthritis only (n) (133; 81)* | 56.4% (75) | 58.0% (47) | 0.81 |
| Combined peripheral arthritis and spondylitis (n) (133; 81)* | 37.6% (50) | 35.85% (29) | 0.79 |
| Number of previous DMARDs | 2 (1.0–2.0) | 2 (1.0–2.0) | 0.20 |
| HAQ (160; 91)* | 1.00 (0.63–1.38) | 1.00(0.50–1.50) | 0.67 |
| CRP; mg/litre (160; 88)* | 9.1 (3.3–26.5) | 11.0 (3.0–30.5) | 0.72 |
| ESR; mm/h (160; 90)* | 18.0 (10.0–30.0) | 17.5 (8.0–34.0) | 0.67 |
| DAS28 score (125; 76)† | 4.93 (3.87–5.71) | 4.82 (3.83–5.46) | 0.57 |
| Regular NSAID usage (n) | 60.9% (98) | 48.0% (48) | 0.04 |
| Irregular NSAID usage (n) | 13.0% (21) | 9.0% (9) | 0.32 |
| Adalimumab; % (n) | 10.6% (17) | 11.0% (11) | 0.99 |
| Etanercept; % (n) | 43.5% (70) | 49.0% (49) | 0.38 |
| Infliximab; % (n) | 46.0% (74) | 40.0% (40) | 0.35 |
Values are the median and interquartile range except where stated otherwise.
*In some patients, joint counts and other baseline characteristics were lacking, the numbers within brackets (MTX; no MTX) are the actual number of patients observed for the particular variable.
†Only calculated for subgroup of patients with joint counts and peripheral arthritis.
CRP, C-reactive protein; DAS28, Disease Activity Score; DMARD, disease-modifying antirheumatic drug; ESR, erythrocyte sedimentation rate; HAQ, Health Assessment Questionnaire; MTX, methotrexate; NSAID, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug.