Baseline variables
| Variables | All patients (n=2356) | Etanercept (n=959) | Adalimumab (n=776) | Infliximab (n=621) | p Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age, years (mean±SD) | 54±13 | 55±13 | 53±13 | 55±13 | 0.038 |
| Gender, female (%) | 69 | 66 | 70 | 71 | 0.13 |
| Weight, kg (mean±SD) | 75.9±15.3 | 76.57±17.08 | 80.05±17.5 | 73.0±13.0 | <0.001 |
| DAS28 (mean±SD) | 5.0±1.3 | 5.0±1.4 | 4.8±1.3 | 5.2±1.2 | <0.001 |
| SJC28 (P50 (P25–P75)) | 8.0 (5.0–13.0) | 9.5 (6.0–14.0) | 8.0 (5.0–12.0) | 8.0 (5.0–14.0) | 0.029 |
| TJC28 (P50 (P25–P75)) | 8.0 (4.0–13.0) | 8.0 (4.0–13.0) | 8.0 (4.0–13.0) | 8.0 (4.0–14.0) | 0.81 |
| ESR (P50 (P25–P75)) | 22.0 (11.0–37.0) | 22.0 (11.0–38.0) | 20.0 (9.0–33.0) | 25.0 (14.0–44.0) | <0.001 |
| VAS general health, 0–100 (P50 (P25–P75)) | 65.0 (40.0–75.0) | 65.0 (40.0–801.0) | 65.0 (40.0–75.0) | 65.0 (45.0–75.0) | 0.96 |
| VAS pain, 0–100 (P50 (P25–P75)) | 60.0 (45.0–75.0) | 65 (45.0–80.0) | 60.0 (45.0–75.0) | 60.0 (45.0–70.0) | 0.037 |
| HAQ, 0–3 (P50 (P25–P75)) | 1.3 (0.8–1.8) | 1.3 (0.8–1.8) | 1.1 (0.75–1.63) | 1.4 (0.9–1.8) | 0.018 |
| Rheumatoid factor positive (%) | 68 | 65 | 67 | 73 | 0.008 |
| Presence of erosions (%) | 37 | 41 | 46 | 20 | 0.001 |
| Time from diagnosis RA till start of anti-TNF, years (P50 (P25–P75)) | 6.0 (2.0–13.0) | 5.0 (1.0–12.0) | 5.0 (1.0–12.0) | 8.0 (3.0–15.0) | <0.001 |
| DMARDs used, n (P50 (P25–P75)) | 3.0 (2.0–4.0) | 3.0 (2.0–4.0) | 3.0 (2.0–4.0) | 3.0 (2.0–5.0) | <0.001 |
| Baseline use of: | |||||
| Methotrexate (%) | 48 | 66 | 74 | 65 | <0.001 |
| Corticosteroids (%) | 21 | 23 | 18 | 20 | 0.035 |
| Medical history of: | |||||
| CVD (%) | 6.9 | 6.9 | 7.8 | 5.6 | 0.91 |
| COPD (%) | 1.2 | 1.6 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.53 |
| Leucopenia (%) | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.51 |
| Diabetes mellitus (%) | 1.5 | 2.1 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.04 |
| Extra-articular manifestations (%) | 3 | 3.8 | 3.2 | 1.6 | 0.04 |
COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; CVD, cardiovascular disease; DAS28, Disease Activity Score of 28 joints; DMARDs, disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs; ESR, erythrocyte sedimentation rate; HAQ, Health Assessment Questionnaire; P25, lower IQR; P50, median value; P75, upper IQR; RA, rheumatoid arthritis; SJC28, swollen joint count of 28 joints; TNF, tumour necrosis factor; TJC28, tender joint count of 28 joints; VAS, visual analogue scale .