Characteristics | Tapering csDMARD (n=94) | Tapering TNF inhibitor (n=95) |
Demographic | ||
Age (years), mean (95% CI) | 55.9 (53.0 to 58.8) | 57.2 (55.0 to 59.4) |
Gender, female, n (%) | 67 (71) | 58 (61) |
Disease characteristics | ||
Symptom duration (years), median (IQR) | 6.0 (4.1–8.5) | 6.4 (4.2–8.9) |
RF positive, n (%) | 50 (57) | 59 (65) |
ACPA positive, n (%) | 62 (71) | 67 (75) |
Disease activity | ||
DAS44, mean (95% CI) | 1.1 (0.9 to 1.2) | 1.0 (0.9 to 1.1) |
DAS clinical remission, DAS44 <1.6, n (%) | 76 (81) | 87 (88) |
TJC44, median (IQR) | 0 (0–2) | 0 (0–1) |
SJC44, median (IQR) | 0 (0–0) | 0 (0–0) |
VAS disease activity (0–100 mm), median (IQR) | 20 (4–32) | 12 (4–23) |
ESR in mm/hour, median (IQR) | 8 (3–14) | 8 (2–15) |
CRP in mg/L, median (IQR) | 2.2 (1–5) | 2 (1–6) |
Use of csDMARDs* | ||
MTX, n (%) | 90 (96) | 84 (88) |
SASP, n (%) | 10 (11) | 12 (13) |
HCQ, n (%) | 24 (26) | 37 (39) |
Leflunomide, n (%) | 2 (2) | 4 (4) |
Use of TNF inhibitor | ||
Etanercept, n (%) | 51 (54) | 52 (55) |
Adalimumab, n (%) | 37 (39) | 40 (42) |
Others, n (%)† | 6 (6) | 3 (3) |
Radiographs (hand/foot) | ||
mTSS (0–488), median (IQR) | 2 (0–6.5) | 1 (0–3.5) |
Erosion score (0–280), median (IQR) | 0 (0–2.5) | 0 (0–2) |
JSN score (0–168), median (IQR) | 0.5 (0–2.5) | 0 (0–2.5) |
Erosive disease, n(%)‡ | 37 (39) | 26 (27) |
Patient-reported outcomes | ||
HAQ-DI, mean (95% CI) | 0.52 (0.42 to 0.62) | 0.47 (0.35 to 0.58) |
SF-36, median (IQR) | ||
PCS | 43 (29–48) | 47 (39–51) |
MCS | 60 (56–63) | 57 (51–62) |
EQ-5D index, mean (95% CI) | 0.86 (0.83 to 0.88) | 0.87 (0.85 to 0.89) |
*Some patients used a combination of csDMARDs.
†Certolizumab or golimumab.
‡Erosive disease is characterised as having >1 erosion in three separate joints.
ACPA, anticitrullinated protein antibody;CRP, C reactive protein;csDMARD, conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drug;DAS44, Disease Activity Score Measured in 44 joints;EQ5D, European Quality of Life-5 Dimensions;ESR, erythrocyte sedimentation rate;HAQ-DI, Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index;HCQ, hydroxychloroquine;JSN, joint space narrowing;MCS, mental component summary;mTSS, modified Sharp/Van der Heijde score.MTX, methotrexate;PCS, physical component summary;RF, rheumatoid factor;SASP, sulfasalazine;SF-36, Short Form-36;SJC, Swollen Joint Count;TJC, Tender Joint Count;VAS, Visual Analogue Scale;