Progression of clinical disease activity, therapeutic responses, and drug therapy (count smokers vs nonsmokers) at 1 and 2 years of followup. Results are mean values ± SD or percentages unless otherwise indicated.
| 12 Months, n = 137 | 24 Months, n = 137 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Characteristic | Nonsmokers, n = 90 | Current Smokers, n = 47 | p | Nonsmokers, n = 90 | Current Smokers, n = 47 | p |
| 28 Tender joint count | 3.4 ± 5 | 3 ± 4 | 0.631 | 2.5 ± 3.6 | 2.5 ± 4.1 | 0.962 |
| 28 Swollen joint count | 2.2 ± 3.3 | 1.9 ± 3 | 0.609 | 1.9 ± 2.7 | 1.8 ± 3.8 | 0.837 |
| Patient global assessment, mm | 41.7 ± 17.8 | 37.8 ± 18 | 0.233 | 35.4 ± 19.3 | 35.6 ± 18.7 | 0.970 |
| Physician global assessment, mm | 35.3 ± 19.5 | 31.9 ± 18.1 | 0.335 | 30.4 ± 18.1 | 30.5 ± 18.4 | 0.977 |
| VAS pain, mm | 30.8 ± 24.9 | 25 ± 24.3 | 0.214 | 26.3 ± 23.6 | 27.9 ± 24.1 | 0.731 |
| ESR, mm/h | 28.8 ± 21.1 | 18.5 ± 12.3 | 0.003 | 24.7 ± 17.6 | 21.7 ± 16.6 | 0.346 |
| CRP, mg/dl | 1.3 ± 1.7 | 1.1 ± 1.2 | 0.443 | 1.2 ± 1.8 | 1.2 ± 1.8 | 0.939 |
| Modified HAQ | 0.5 ± 0.5 | 0.4 ± 0.5 | 0.405 | 0.5 ± 0.6 | 0.4 ± 0.5 | 0.892 |
| DAS28 | 3.8 ± 1.4 | 3.5 ± 1.2 | 0.135 | 3.5 ± 1.3 | 3.2 ± 1.2 | 0.362 |
| Remission (DAS28 < 2.6), n (%) | 20/87 (23.0) | 11/44 (25.0) | 0.798 | 29/87 (33.3) | 15/43 (34.9) | 0.860 |
| Low disease activity (DAS28 < 3.2), n (%) | 32/87 (36.8) | 23/44 (52.3) | 0.90 | 41/87 (47.1) | 22/43 (51.2) | 0.665 |
| Good EULAR response, n (%) | 29/82 (35.4) | 23/44 (52.3) | 0.079 | 41/87 (48.2) | 22/43 (51.2) | 0.223 |
| Moderate EULAR response, n (%) | 39/82 (47.6) | 12/44 (27.3) | — | 28/83 (33.7) | 18/43 (41.9) | |
| No EULAR response, n (%) | 14/82 (17.1) | 9/44 (20.5) | — | 15/83 (18.1) | 3/43 (7.0) | |
| Patients receiving IM gold | 68.9 | 66.0 | 0.122 | 42.2 | 25.5 | 0.06 |
| Patients receiving methotrexate | 40.0 | 44.7 | 0.598 | 44.4 | 51.1 | 0.461 |
| Patients receiving TNF antagonists | 2.2 | 4.3 | 0.607 | 10.0 | 6.4 | 0.545 |
VAS: visual analog scale; DAS28: 28-joint Disease Activity Score; HAQ: Health Assessment Questionnaire; ESR: erythrocyte sedimentation rate; CRP: C-reactive protein; EULAR: European League Against Rheumatism; IM: intramuscular; TNF: tumor necrosis factor.