Table 2

Baseline characteristics of the cohort

Baseline characteristicsIP cohort (n=1084)
Age at symptom onset (years), median (IQR)53 (41–66)
Female, n (%)709 (65.4)
Symptom duration at registration (months), median (IQR)4 (2–10)
HAQ score, median (IQR)*0.75 (0.25–1.375)
CRP (mg/dl), median (IQR)†5 (0–16)
DAS28 score, median (IQR)†3.93 (2.89–5.01)
Swollen joint count, median (IQR)6 (2–13)
Tender joint count, median (IQR)7 (3–16)
Swollen and tender joint count, median (IQR)3 (0–8)
Satisfied 1987 ACR criteria for RA, n (%)493 (45.5)
Presence of nodules, n (%)72 (6.6)
Smoking status at baseline, n (%)
 Never smoked353 (32.6)
 Ex-smoker ≥10 years282 (26)
 Ex-smoker <10 years161 (14.9)
 Current smoker288 (26.6)

  • ↵* HAQ completed by 1072 subjects;

  • ↵† CRP measured on 866 subjects.

  • ACR, American College of Rheumatology; CRP, C-reactive protein; DAS28, 28 joint count Disease Activity Score; HAQ, Health Assessment Questionnaire; IP, inflammatory polyarthritis; RA, rheumatoid arthritis.