Baseline characteristics of patients at study entry (n = 738). All data are presented as mean (SD) except where noted.
| Characteristic | |
|---|---|
| Female, % (n) | 83.7 (618) |
| Age, yrs | 56.3 (12.9) |
| Ethnicity (white), % (n) | 93.3 (683) |
| Disease duration (yrs since diagnosis) | 14.1 (11.9) |
| Early RA patients (disease duration < 2 yrs), % (n) | 13.0 (96) |
| RF-positive, % (n) | 64.1 (446) |
| CCP-positive, % (n) | 67.0 (485) |
| Anti-CCP or RF-positive, % (n) | 73.0 (539) |
| DAS28-CRP | 4.0 (1.6) |
| MD-HAQ physical function (range 0–3) | 0.62 (0.52) |
| C-reactive protein* | 9.2 (18.7) |
| Physician global assessment, 0–100 | 34.0 (21.8) |
| Patient global assessment, 0–100 | 30.9 (24.5) |
| Tender joint count (28) | 8.6 (8.0) |
| Swollen joint count (28) | 7.9 (7.4) |
| NSAID, % (n) | 61.7 (455) |
| Narcotic analgesics, % (n) | 11.3 (83) |
| MTX, % (n) | 48.2 (356) |
| Biologic therapies, % (n) | 38.2 (282) |
| Prednisone, % (n) | 31.8 (235) |
| HCQ, % (n) | 16.9 (125) |
| SSZ, % (n) | 6.0 (44) |
| Leflunomide, % (n) | 10.2 (75) |
↵* The C-reactive protein (CRP) is reported as a high-sensitivity CRP in mg/dl: the concentration of CRP was determined using an immunoturbidimetric assay on the Roche P Modular system (Roche Diagnostics), using reagents and calibrators from DiaSorin. NSAID: nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs; MTX: methotrexate; HCQ: hydroxychloroquine; SSZ: sulfasalazine; MD-HAQ: physicians’ Health Assessment Questionnaire; DAS28-CRP: 28-joint Disease Activity Score using CRP; RF: rheumatoid factor; anti-CCP: anticyclic citrullinated peptide; RA: rheumatoid arthritis.