Demographics and clinical characteristics of the patients with RA
| Characteristics of patients | Whole cohort (n=207) |
| Basic characteristics | |
| Age at GC initiation (years) | 55.9±14.5 |
| Female, % (n) | 82.6% (171) |
| Disease duration (months) | 24.0 (8.5–96.0) |
| DMARD naïve | 53.1% (110) |
| RF positive, % (n) | 73.2% (55/205) |
| Anti-CCP positive, % (n) | 79.5% (151/190) |
| Baseline disease activity measures | |
| TJC28 | 4 (2–10) |
| SJC28 | 3 (1–5) |
| PGA, 0–10 cm | 5 (3–6) |
| EGA, 0–10 cm | 4 (2–6) |
| ESR, mm/hour | 38 (17–60) |
| CRP, mg/dL | 1.30 (0.47–3.74) |
| DAS28-ESR | 4.76 (3.69–5.96) |
| SDAI | 18.7 (10.5–32.4) |
| CDAI | 16.0 (9.0–29.0) |
| Initial therapy paradigm | |
| MTX, % (n) | 75.4% (156) |
| LEF, % (n) | 53.1% (110) |
| HCQ, % (n) | 55.6% (115) |
| SSZ, % (n) | 9.2% (19) |
| TII, % (n) | 13.0% (27) |
| NSAIDs, % (n) | 13.0% (27) |
| DMARD combination, % (n) | 81.1% (163) |
| PSL equivalent dose, mg/day | 10.0 (5.0–10.0) |
Values are presented as mean (SD) or median (IQR), as applicable.
Anti-CCP, anti-cyclic citrullinated peptides; CDAI, clinical disease activity index; CRP, C reactive protein; DAS28, disease activity score based on 28-joint count; DMARDs, disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs; EGA, evaluator’s global assessment; ESR, erythrocyte sedimentation rate; HCQ, hydroxychloroquine; LEF, leflunomide; MTX, methotrexate; PGA, patient’s global assessment; PSL, prednisolone; RF, rheumatoid factor; SDAI, simplified disease activity index; SJC, swollen joint count; SSZ, sulfasalazine; TJC, tender joint count.