Table 1

Baseline characteristics of patients

Unweighted sampleWeighted sample
Anti-TNFDMARDTotalp ValueAnti-TNFDMARDp Value
N32711773504432711773
Weights, mean (SD)1 (0)1 (0)1 (0)0.99 (0.8)1.0 (1.2)0.15
Female, n (%)2556 (78.1)1394 (78.6)3950 (78.3)0.692612.2 (78.8)1519.4 (77.6)0.29
Age53.8 (12.3)56.2 (11.5)54.6 (12.1)<0.000154.4 (12.3)54.6 (12.1)0.47
Median (IQR) disease duration, years9 (5, 16)6 (3, 12)8 (4, 15)<0.00018 (4, 15)8 (4, 16)0.45
Median (IQR) follow-up, years3.1 (2.1, 4.9)3.3 (2.5, 5.0)3.1 (2.4, 5.0)<0.00013 (2.2, 4.6)3.5 (2.5, 5)<0.0001
Rheumatoid factor positive, n (%)2624 (80.2)1271 (71.7)3895 (77.2)<0.00012620.4 (79.0)1479.6 (75.5)0.003
DAS285.7 (1.2)5.1 (1.3)5.5 (1.3)<0.00015.5 (1.3)5.6 (1.3)0.20
FFbH57.0 (23.0)66.6 (21.5)60.4 (22.9)<0.000160.0 (22.8)58.7 (24.3)0.05
Smoking ever, n (%)1027 (47.0)585 (45.6)1612 (46.4)0.431036.1 (46.3)621.1 (44.7)0.36
No of previous DMARDs3.3 (1.3)1.8 (1.0)2.8 (1.4)<0.00012.8 (1.4)2.9 (1.5)0.01
No of previous biologics0.23 (0.6)0.01 (0.1)0.14 (0.4)<0.00010.17 (0.5)0.10 (0.4)<0.0001
Glucocorticoids 7.5–14 mg/day, n (%)1027 (31.4)386 (21.8)1413 (28.0)<0.0001938.6 (30.0)404.1 (25.4)<0.0001
Glucocorticoids ≥15 mg/day, n (%)491 (15.0)147 (8.3)683 (12.7)<0.0001465.5 (14.9)146.6 (9.2)<0.0001
COPD, n (%)162 (5.0)87 (4.9)249 (4.9)0.94168.9 (5.1)86.8 (4.4)0.28
Chronic lung diseases total, n (%)246 (7.5)112 (6.3)358 (7.1)0.11247.7(7.5)135.9 (6.9)0.47
Chronic renal disease, n (%)139 (4.3)31 (1.8)170 (3.4)<0.0001156.1 (4.7)56.8 (2.9)0.001
  • Values are mean (SD) unless otherwise specified.

  • The weights estimated for the first time period (0–6 months) were used to calculate the weighted sample (columns 6 and 7).

  • COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; DAS28, disease activity score based on 28 joint counts; DMARD, disease-modifying antirheumatic drug; FFbH, Hannover Functional Status Questionnaire measuring functional capacity as percentage of full function; TNF, tumour necrosis factor.