Comparison of clinical variables at baseline and 3 months in smokers and nonsmokers treated with TNF antagonists.
| Variable | Never Smoked (n = 48) | Ever Smoked (n = 99) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baseline | 3 mos | Change (%) | Baseline | 3 mos | Change (%) | |
| CRP, mg/l | 43.8 (24.0–94.0) | 12.0 (4.0–39.0) | 31.8 (72.6) | 43.0 (23.0–69.0) | 15.0 (6.0–43.0) | 28.0 (65.1) |
| ESR, mm/h | 52.0 (30.0–81.5) | 27.0 (10.0–42.0) | 25.0 (48.1) | 51.5 (36.0–71.0) | 32.0 (17.0–54.0) | 19.5 (37.9) |
| TJC28 | 18.0 (12.5–23.0) | 4.0 (2.0–8.5) | 14.0 (77.8) | 17.5 (11.25–24.0) | 6.0 (3.0–12.0) | 11.5 (65.7)† |
| SJC28 | 12.0 (8.5–16.0) | 4.0 (2.0–6.0) | 8.0 (66.7) | 11.0 (8.0–16.0) | 4.5 (2.25–8.0) | 6.5 (59.0) |
| PGA | 74.0 (66.5–81.0) | 23.0 (10.0–33.0) | 51.0 (68.9) | 75.0 (66.0–90.0) | 38.0 (9.8–53.0)# | 37.0 (49.3)†† |
| DAS28 | 6.87 (0.8) | 4.23 (1.1) | 2.64 (38.3) | 6.95 (0.9) | 4.88 (1.4)†† | 2.07 (29.8)† |
| HAQ | 2.13 (1.94–2.63) | 1.75 (1.13–2.25) | 0.38 (17.8) | 2.26 (2.0–2.75) | 2.0 (1.69–2.38)* | 0.26 (11.5) |
| VAS (pain) | 69.6 (22.0) | 24.4 (19.0) | 45.2 (64.9) | 71.7 (19.0) | 42.3 (25.1)# | 29.4 (41.0)** |
All clinical variables in smokers and nonsmokers were significantly lower at 3 mos compared with baseline (p < 0.0001). Patients who had ever smoked demonstrated significantly higher levels and lower percentage changes of many variables at 3 months;
↵* p = 0.01,
↵** p = 0.009,
↵† p = 0.008,
↵†† p = 0.005,
↵# p ≤ 0.0004 (compared with never smoked). CRP: C-reactive protein; ESR: erythrocyte sedimentation rate; TJC: tender joints; SJC; swollen joints; PGA: patient global assessment; DAS: Disease Activity Score; HAQ: Health Assessment Questionnaire; VAS: visual analog scale. Mean (standard deviation) shown for DAS28 and VAS (pain) scores. All other scores show median (interquartile range).