| Initial IFX (n = 117) | Delayed IFX (n = 67) | p Value | |
| Female sex (%) | 68 | 81 | 0.057 |
| Age at diagnosis, mean (SD) | 53.8 (14.1) | 49.8 (12.4) | 0.054 |
| RF positive (%) | 64 | 75 | 0.141 |
| Symptom duration (weeks), median (IQR) | 23 (13 to 45) | 29 (17 to 56) | 0.175 |
| Disease duration (weeks), median (IQR) | 3 (1 to 5) | 2 (1 to 5) | 0.069 |
| Tender joints (no.), mean (SD) | 13 (6) | 16 (7) | <0.001 |
| Swollen joints (no.), mean (SD) | 14 (7) | 16 (6) | 0.049 |
| ESR, median (IQR) | 35 (19 to 56) | 40 (22 to 68) | 0.157 |
| DAS, mean (SD) | 4.29 (0.8) | 4.73 (0.8) | 0.001 |
| HAQ, mean (SD) | 1.36 (0.7) | 1.49 (0.5) | 0.159 |
| Erosion score, median (IQR) | 2.0 (0.5 to 5.0) | 1.5 (0.5 to 3.5) | 0.294 |
| Narrowing score, median (IQR) | 1.5 (0.0 to 3.8) | 1.5 (0.0 to 4.0) | 0.953 |
| Total Sharp score, median (IQR) | 4.0 (1.5 to 9.0) | 3.0 (1.0 to 7.5) | 0.568 |
Best, Behandel Stratagieen (treatment strategies); DAS, disease activity score; ESR, erythrocyte sedimentation rate; HAQ, health assessment questionnaire; IFX, infliximab; IQR, interquartile range; RF, rheumatoid factor.