Baseline characteristics in the modified intention-to-treat population
| MTX continue (n=156) | MTX hold (n=160) | |
| Female (%) | 129 (82.7) | 140 (87.5) |
| Age, years | 52.2 (9.5) | 53.7 (10.3) |
| Duration of RA, years | 6.8 (6.5) | 6.9 (6.2) |
| Body mass index, kg/m2 | 23.3 (3.3) | 23.2 (3.3) |
| Diabetes mellitus (%) | 8 (5.1) | 8 (5.0) |
| Smoking | ||
| Never (%) | 128 (82.1) | 130 (81.3) |
| Current (%) | 11 (7.1) | 10 (6.3) |
| Former (%) | 17 (10.9) | 20 (12.5) |
| RF positivity (%) | 120/154 (77.9) | 132/157 (84.1) |
| Anti-CCP positivity (%) | 105/121 (86.8) | 111/135 (82.2) |
| DAS28-CRP | 2.2 (0.9) | 2.3 (1.1) |
| Treatment | ||
| GC (%) | 82 (52.6) | 74 (46.3) |
| Mean GC dose, mg/day | 1.8 (2.1) | 1.7 (2.1) |
| MTX (%) | 156 (100) | 160 (100) |
| MTX dose, mg/week | 13.3 (3.4) | 13.1 (3.2) |
| Sulfasalazine (%) | 8 (5.1) | 10 (6.3) |
| Hydroxychloroquine (%) | 35 (22.4) | 31 (19.4) |
| Leflunomide (%) | 33 (21.2) | 37 (23.1) |
| Tacrolimus (%) | 2 (1.3) | 2 (1.3) |
| Biological DMARDs | ||
| Tumour necrosis factor inhibitor (%) | 11 (7.1) | 13 (8.1) |
| Abatacept (%) | 1 (0.6) | 6 (3.8) |
| Tocilizumab (%) | 4 (2.6) | 7 (4.4) |
| Rituximab (%) | 1 (0.6) | 1 (0.6) |
| Tofacitinib (%) | 0 (0) | 1 (0.6) |
The data are mean (SD) or number (%).
Anti-CCP, anticyclic citrullinated peptide; CRP, C-reactive protein; DAS28, Disease Activity Score in 28 joints; DMARDs, disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs; ESR, erythrocyte sedimentation rate; GC, glucocorticoids; MTX, methotrexate; RA, rheumatoid arthritis; RF, rheumatoid factor.