Comparing baseline characteristics of patients with and without active disease (DAS>2.4) after 3 months of induction DMARD treatment
| Active disease | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Yes (n=42) | No (n=78) | p Value | |
| Age (years), median (IQR) | 55 (45–63) | 54 (43–64) | 0.69 |
| Sex, female, no (%) | 35 (83) | 43 (55) | 0.002 |
| Symptom duration (days), median (IQR) | 139 (92–208) | 164 (116–214) | 0.30 |
| RF positive, no (%) | 24 (57) | 54 (69) | 0.19 |
| ACPA positive, no (%) | 27 (64) | 57 (73) | 0.31 |
| Morning stiffness >1 h, no (%) | 33 (79) | 60 (77) | 0.84 |
| Erosion, no (%) | 4 (10) | 16 (21) | 0.12 |
| Fulfilment of RA criteria, no (%) | |||
| 1987 | 28 (67) | 54 (69) | 0.77 |
| 2010 | 42 (100) | 72 (92) | 0.07 |
| DAS, mean (95% CI) | 3.89 (3.65 to 4.14) | 3.17 (3.02 to 3.34) | <0.0001 |
| TJC44, median (IQR) | 14 (10–21) | 7 (3–14) | <0.0001 |
| SJC44, median (IQR) | 8.5 (4–12) | 8 (4–12) | 0.95 |
| ESR (mm/h), median (IQR) | 29 (17–45) | 20 (12–34) | 0.03 |
| General health (0–100 mm), median (IQR) | 54 (50–70) | 51.5 (30–65) | 0.02 |
| Treatment, no (%) | |||
| A. MTX+SSZ+HCQ+GCs IM | 11 (26) | 32 (41) | 0.11 |
| B. MTX+SSZ+HCQ+GCs oral | 10 (24) | 29 (37) | 0.14 |
| C. MTX+GCs oral | 21 (50) | 17 (22) | 0.002 |
ACPA, anti-citrullinated peptide antibodies; DAS, Disease Activity Score; DMARD, disease-modifying antirheumatic drug; ESR, erythrocyte sedimentation rate; GCs, glucocorticoids; HCQ, hydroxychloroquine; IM, intramuscular; MTX, methotrexate; RA, rheumatoid arthritis; RF, rheumatoid factor; SJC44, swollen joint count (44 joints); SSZ, sulfasalazine; TJC44, tender joint count (44 joints).