Characteristics of patient groups according to fulfilment of RA classification criteria at baseline and after follow-up
| Characteristics of patient groups according to fulfilment of classification criteria at baseline | Characteristics of patient groups according to fulfilment of classification criteria after follow-up | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 Criteria only; n=6 | 2010 Criteria only; n=46 | Both criteria; n=41 | Neither criteria; n=112 | 1987 Criteria only; n=20 | 2010 Criteria only; n=16 | Both criteria; n=76 | Neither criteria; n=79 | |
| Age, years; median (IQR) | 65 (58–70) | 57 (45–67) | 60 (47–70) | 45 (32–63) | 62 (57–71) | 49 (43–55) | 60 (45–70) | 40 (29–55) |
| Female; n (%) | 4 (67) | 33 (72) | 20 (49) | 61 (54) | 10 (50) | 13 (81) | 43 (57) | 43 (54) |
| RF positive; n (%) | 0 (0) | 23 (50) | 26 (63) | 3 (3) | 0 (0) | 5 (31) | 44 (58) | 1 (1) |
| Anti-CCP positive; n (%) | 0 (0) | 23 (50) | 28 (68) | 1 (1) | 0 (0) | 3 (19) | 48 (63) | 0 (0) |
| Eventual outcome (after follow-up); n (%): | ||||||||
| Definitive non-RA diagnosis | 0 (0) | 4 (9) | 3 (7) | 7 (6) | – | – | – | – |
| Self-limiting illness | 1 (17) | 12 (26) | 4 (10) | 61 (54) | 4 (20) | 11 (69) | 8 (11) | 53 (67) |
| DMARD use within first 18 months; n (%) | ||||||||
| Methotrexate | 4 (67) | 23 (50) | 27 (66) | 19 (17) | 12 (60) | 3 (19) | 48 (63) | 6 (8) |
| Other | 1 (17) | 7 (15) | 8 (20) | 16 (14) | 2 (10) | 0 (0) | 16 (21) | 11 (14) |
Anti-CCP, anticyclic citrullinated peptide antibody; DMARD, disease-modifying antirheumatic drug; RA, rheumatoid arthritis; RF, rheumatoid factor.