Table 4.

Benefit-risk analysis.

	Area A, n = 90	Area I, n = 335	p
Sex, female, n (%)	19 (21.11)	98 (29.25)	0.125^a
Weight, kg, mean (SD)	55.4 (9.6)	52.3 (10.7)	0.014^b
Age, yrs, mean (SD)	51.7 (14.8)	68.1 (8.2)	< 0.001^b
Duration of illness, yrs, mean (SD)	3.1 (3.8)	13.9 (9.5)	< 0.001^b
Disease stage by Steinbrocker, n (%)
I	41 (45.56)	10 (2.99)	< 0.001^a
II	41 (45.56)	60 (17.91)
III	5 (5.56)	110 (32.84)
IV	3 (3.33)	155 (46.27)
Function class by Steinbrocker, n (%)
1	50 (55.56)	15 (4.48)	< 0.001^a
2	40 (44.44)	177 (52.84)
3	0	136 (40.60)
4	0	7 (2.09)
Comorbidities
Any comorbidities	37 (41.11)	318 (94.93)	< 0.001^a
Respiratory disease	9 (10.00)	173 (51.64)	< 0.001^a
Cardiac functional disorders	2 (2.22)	47 (14.03)	0.002^a
Liver disorders	8 (8.89)	23 (6.87)	0.512^a
Renal dysfunction	1 (1.11)	23 (6.87)	0.036^a
Concomitant drug use^c
DMARD	59 (65.56)	216 (64.48)	0.849^a
MTX	47 (52.22)	110 (32.84)	< 0.001^a
Corticosteroids (oral only)	13 (14.44)	335 (100.00)	< 0.001^a
Pervious medication use
Biologic	8 (8.89)	220 (65.67)	< 0.001^a
DAS28-ESR, mean (SD)	3.39 (0.87)	5.94 (1.20)	< 0.001^b

↵a Chi-squared test results.
↵b t test results.
↵c Concomitant use at any timepoint during the observation period including baseline. DAS28-ESR: Disease Activity Score based on 28-joint-erythrocyte sedimentation rate; DMARD: disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs; MTX: methotrexate.