Table 2 Demographic and disease characteristics in the 79 patients with early rheumatoid arthritis followed for 48 weeks.

Baseline demographics
Age (years), mean (SD)	49.7 (13.1)
Female sex, n (%)	47 (59.5)
BMI (kg/m2), mean (SD)	26.2 (4.7)
Baseline disease variables
Disease duration (months), mean (SD)	8.5 (5.8)
Rheumatoid factor, n (%)	64 (81.0)
CRP (mg/l), mean (range)	40.2 (2 to 195)
ESR (mm/hour), mean (SD)	34.3 (28.2)
*HAQ score (0–3), mean (SD)	1.35 (0.71)
Hand BMD (g/cm2), mean (SD)	0.43 (0.07)
Mean follow‐up disease variables
CRP (mg/l), mean (range)	24.7 (5 to 141)
*HAQ score (0–3), mean (SD)	0.86 (0.61)

BMI, body mass index; CRP, C‐reactive protein; ESR, erythrocyte sedimentation rate; HAQ, Health Assessment Questionnaire.

*HAQ score from 0 (no disability) to 3 (severe disability).