Table 1.

Baseline characteristics for patients, stratified by prednisone use*

	Never prednisone N=264		Ever prednisone N=240		P value
Demographic
Age, mean (SD)	54.6	(13.6)	54.1	(13.9)	0.71
Sex female, %	35		30		0.30
Smoking, %	36		35		0.93
Body mass index, mean (SD)	26.1	(4.3)	26.0	(4.0)	0.80
Randomisation arm					<0.001
Sequential monotherapy	103	(39)	23	(10)
Step-up combination therapy	74	(28)	46	(19)
Initial combination with prednisone	0	(0)	130	(54)
Initial combination with infliximab	87	(33)	41	(17)
Disease related
Symptom duration (days), median (IQR)	23.5	(13.4–52.5)	23.6	(14.3–53.0)	0.89
RF-positive, %	61		70		0.03
ACPA-positive, %	62		63		0.85
DAS, mean (SD)	4.4	(0.9)	4.5	(0.8)	0.21
HAQ, mean (SD)	1.3	(0.9–1.8)	1.4	(1.0–2.0)	0.003
SHS, median (IQR)	2	(0–5.5)	1.5	(0–5.25)	0.70

*Comparisons were tested with t-tests, Mann-Whitney U tests or Fisher’s exact tests, as appropriate.

ACPA, anti-citrullinated peptide antibody; DAS, Disease Activity Score; HAQ, Health Assessment Questionnaire; RF, rheumatoid factor; SHS, Sharp/vanderHeijde Score.