Table 4 Results of linear regression analysis using a backward selection procedure in the 285 patients with rheumatoid arthritis with a Sharp–van der Heijde score at 1‐year follow‐up as the dependent variable and distribution and total number of swollen joints as possible explanatory variables.

Joint group	B	SE	p Value
Knee	1.4	0.5	0.004
Total number of swollen joints	6.1	2.9	0.03

B indicates the regression coefficient.