Univariable analysis: potential variables associated with a flare during a drug-free remission period
| Restarters (n=53) | Sustained drug-free remission (n=59) | OR (95%CI) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baseline characteristics | |||
| Age, mean (SD) | 57 (13) | 55 (15) | 1.01 (0.99 to 1.04) |
| Female gender, n (%) | 29 (55) | 33 (56) | 0.95 (0.45 to 2.01) |
| Symptom duration (weeks), median (IQR) | 24 (13–56) | 20 (11–40) | 1.00 (0.99 to 1.02) |
| DAS44, mean (SD) | 4.2 (0.8) | 4.3 (0.9) | 0.82 (0.53 to 1.24) |
| HAQ, median (IQR) | 1.13 (0.56–1.38) | 1.25 (0.75–1.88) | 0.53 (0.29 to 0.97)* |
| SJC44, median (IQR) | 13 (10–18) | 15 (10–21) | 0.97 (0.92 to 1.03) |
| RAI, median (IQR) | 11 (8–14) | 11 (7–16) | 0.97 (0.92 to 1.03) |
| VAS global health, mean (SD) | 47 (31–61) | 53 (41–70) | 0.98 (0.96 to 1.00)* |
| ESR, median (IQR) | 36 (18–51) | 31 (15–45) | 1.01 (0.99 to 1.02) |
| CRP, median (IQR) | 18 (9–38) | 20 (6–45) | 1.00 (0.99 to 1.01) |
| SHS, median (IQR) | 2.5 (1.0–7.0) | 1.5 (0–6.0) | 1.03 (0.98 to 1.09) |
| Erosive yes (%) | 24 (43) | 32 (60) | 2.0 (0.95 to 4.4) |
| Anti-CCP positive (%) | 37 (70) | 18 (31) | 5.3 (2.4 to 11.8)* |
| RF positive (%) | 37 (70) | 26 (44) | 2.9 (1.3 to 6.4)* |
| Sequential monotherapy (group 1) | 15 (28) | 14 (24) | ref |
| Step-up combination therapy (group 2) | 9 (17) | 14 (24) | 0.60 (0.20 to 1.8) |
| Initial combination with prednisone (group 3) | 14 (26) | 10 (17) | 1.3 (0.44 to 3.9) |
| Initial combination with infliximab (group 4) | 15 (28) | 21 (36) | 0.67 (0.25 to 1.79) |
| Characteristics at visit before discontinuation | |||
| DAS44, mean (SD) | 1.1 (0.4) | 0.9 (0.5) | 1.55 (0.67 to 3.58) |
| HAQ, median (IQR) | 0.00 (0.00–0.25) | 0.00 (0.00–0.13) | 1.61 (0.50 to 5.20) |
| SJC, median (IQR) | 0 (0–0) | 0 (0–0) | 1.18 (0.80 to 1.74) |
| TJC, median (IQR) | 0 (0–1) | 0 (0–0) | 1.01 (0.73 to 1.40) |
| VAS global health, mean (SD) | 15 (2–22) | 10 (2–20) | 1.01 (0.98 to 1.04) |
| ESR, median (IQR) | 7 (5–15) | 6 (4–15) | 0.99 (0.96 to 1.03) |
| CRP, median (IQR) | 5 (2–10) | 3 (2–7) | 1.02 (0.95 to 1.10) |
| SHS, median (IQR) | 5.0 (1.5–9.5) | 1.5 (0–7.8) | 1.04 (0.99 to 1.10) |
| Last DMARD, n (%) | |||
| MTX | 35 (66) | 44 (75) | Reference |
| SSA | 17 (32) | 12 (20) | 1.8 (0.75 to 4.2) |
| Other | 1 (2) | 3 (5) | NA |
| DAS44, weighted mean until remission (SD) | 1.6 (0.5) | 1.5 (0.5) | 1.6 (0.7 to 3.7) |
| HAQ, weighted mean until remission (SD) | 0.35 (0.34) | 0.29 (0.27) | 2.0 (0.5 to 6.9) |
In the upper part of the table baseline variables are shown and, in the bottom part of the table, characteristics at the visit before the last DMARD has been tapered are given.
The weighted mean DAS44 and HAQ until remission represents the mean DAS44 and HAQ from baseline until the visit when the last DMARD is discontinued.
↵* p<0.05 without correction for multiple testing.
anti-CCP, anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide; CRP, C-reactive protein; DAS44, disease activity score (44 joints); DMARD, disease-modifying antirheumatic drug; ESR, erythrocyte sedimentation rate; HAQ, health assessment questionnaire; IQR, interquartile range; MTX, methotrexate; n, number of patients; NA, not applicable due to low patient numbers; RAI, Ritchie articular index; RF, rheumatoid factor; SHS, Sharp-van der Heijde score; SJC44, swollen joint count 44 joints; SSA, sulfasalazine; VAS, visual analogue scale (mm).