Characteristics | Overall, n = 170* | Biologics, n = 63* | ERA, n = 107* | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Age, yrs, mean (SD), range | 54.6 (13.6), 22–89 | 57.5 (15.1), 25–89 | 52.9 (12.4), 22–89 | |
Female | 119 (70) | 51 (81) | 68 (64) | |
Ethnicity | 82 (48) white, 69 (41) not stated | 42 (67) white, 13 (21) not stated | 40 (37) white, 56 (52) not stated | |
Disease duration since diagnosis at baseline visit, yrs | Could not be calculated because N/A for ERA | Median 5.5, IQR 2–15, n = 62 | N/A | |
Duration between symptom onset and diagnosis, mos | Median 6.1, IQR 3.3–12.2, n = 159 | Median 6.7, IQR 3.0–21.8, n = 52 | Median 6.1, IQR 3.5–11.6, n = 107 | |
Duration of followup, days** | Median 607, IQR 482–678 | Median 616, IQR 524–685 | Median 606, IQR 472–674 | |
RF-positive | 125 (74) | 45 (71) | 80 (75) | |
Anti-CCP–positive | 139 (82), n = 166 | 47 (75), n = 61 | 92 (86), n = 105 | |
Nodules | 20 (12) | 14 (22) | 6 (6) | |
Erosions on baseline radiographs | 59 (35), n = 165 | 40 (63), n = 62 | 19 (18), n = 103 | |
Extraarticular RA manifestations*** | 11 (7) | 8 (13) | 3 (3) | |
Baseline HAQ score, mean (SD) | 1.35 (0.7), n = 165 | 1.7 (0.6), n = 63 | 1.13 (0.7), n = 102 | |
Baseline DAS28, mean (SD) | 5.46 (1.37), n = 156 | 5.76 (1.04), n = 59 | 5.28 (1.51), n = 97 | |
Moderate disease activity, DAS28 > 3.2 to ≤ 5.1 | 49 (35) | 17 (29) | 32 (33) | |
High disease activity, DAS28 > 5.1 | 97 (62) | 42 (71) | 55 (57) | |
Baseline RA treatment at end of the first visit | ||||
Any baseline DMARD | 153 (90) | 53 (84) | 100 (93) | |
Plaquenil | 94 (55) | 21 (33) | 73 (68) | |
MTX | 124 (73) | 37 (59) | 87 (81) | |
Leflunomide | 10 (6) | 10 (16) | 0 | |
Sulfasalazine | 12 (7) | 8 (13) | 4 (13) | |
Any combination DMARD therapy | 80 (47) | 18 (29) | 62 (58) | |
MTX + plaquenil | 66 (39) | 8 (13) | 58 (54) | |
Biologics | 62 (37) | 62 (98) | 0 | |
NSAID, other than ASA at first visit | 64 (38) | 30 (48) | 34 (32) | |
Prednisone | 37 (22) | 21 (33) | 16 (15) | |
Intramuscular GC | 62 (37) | 7 (11) | 55 (51) | |
Intraarticular GC | 12 (7) | 3 (5) | 9 (8) | |
No. followups over study and disease activity at end of followup | ||||
No. followup visits over 2 yrs, mean (SD) | 6.1 (1.9) | 5.9 (1.8) | 6.3 (2.0) | |
DAS28 at end of followup, mean (SD) | 2.3 (1.2), n = 108 | 2.9 (1.3), n = 38 | 2.1 (1.1), n = 70 | |
Remission or low disease activity, DAS ≤ 3.2 | 82 (76) | 23 (61) | 59 (84) | |
CVD events over the course of followup | 2 patients (2 MI, 1 aneurysm repair) | 0 | 2 (2 MI, 1 aneurysm repair) |
↵* Unless otherwise specified.
↵** Duration of followup between baseline visit and last followup date within 2 years (in ERA clinic, calculated from date of diagnosis of RA, and in biologics from biologics clinic date where a switch or new start to a biologic was made).
↵*** Other extraarticular manifestations included interstitial lung disease, pleural disease, and RA vasculitis (rheumatoid nodules not counted here). ERA: early rheumatoid arthritis; RF: rheumatoid factor; anti-CCP: anticyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies; RA: rheumatoid arthritis; HAQ: Health Assessment Questionnaire; DAS28: 28-joint Disease Activity Score; DMARD: disease-modifying antirheumatic drug; MTX: methotrexate; NSAID: nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs; ASA: acetylsalicylic acid; GC: glucocorticoids; CVD: cardiovascular disease; N/A: not applicable; IQR: interquartile range; MI: myocardial infarction.