Table 1.

Baseline characteristics of study population.

Characteristics	1999–2004, n = 274	2005–2009, n = 245	2010–2015, n = 206	p
Age, yrs, mean (SD)	54.49 (12.66)	53.34 (12.17)	53.94 (12.73)	0.5629^*
Disease duration, yrs, median (IQR)	10.37 (5.51–17.09)	7.51 (3.79–15.51)	6.64 (3.38–15.03)	0.0003^*
Female, %	87.6	81.6	78.2	0.0202^**
DAS28, mean (SD)	5.788 (1.154)	5.352 (1.158)	5.146 (1.333)	< 0.0001^*
HAQ-DI, median (IQR)	1.75 (1.375–2.125)	1.5 (1–1.875)	1.125 (0.875–1.625)	< 0.0001^*
Methotrexate use, %	71.2	62	59.2	0.0003^**
Patients in moderate disease activity, %	22.9	37.5	37.8	0.0002^**
Patients in high disease activity, %	75.5	60	58.2	< 0.0001^**

↵* Kruskal-Wallis test.
↵** Chi-square test. IQR: interquartile range; DAS28: Disease Activity Score at 28 joints; HAQ-DI: Health Assessment Questionnaire–Disability Index.