Table 1.
Characteristics of the 102 patients with RA included in the 5-year follow-up
| Baseline | Follow-up | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Age, years | Mean (SD) | 61 (6) | na |
| Disease duration, years | Median (range) | 17 (6–25) | na |
| IgM-RF positive (>25 U/ml) | n (%) | 67 (65) | 67 (65) |
| Joint erosions present, patients | n (%) | 85 (83) | 85 (83) |
| BMI, kg/m2 | Mean (SD) | 25.5 (5) | 26.0 (5) |
| HAQ | Mean (SD) | 1.48 (0.62) | 1.59 (0.89) |
| Corticosteroids | |||
| Ever use | n (%) | 65 (64) | na |
| Use (during follow-up) | n (%) | na | 58 (57)a |
| Months used (during follow-up) | Mean (SD) | na | 43.8 (25.4) |
| ≥7.5 mg for ≥6 months (during follow-up) | n (%) | na | 18 (32) |
| Anti-osteoporosis medication | |||
| Anti-resorptive treatment | n (%) | 15 (15) | 31 (31)b |
| Hormone replacement treatment | n (%) | 31 (30) | 0 (0)b |
| Calcium supplementation | n (%) | 41 (40) | 51 (50)b |
| Vitamin-D supplementation | n (%) | 28 (27) | 43 (42)b |
| Vitamin-D and calcium supplementation | n (%) | 25 (24) | 40 (39) |
| DMARD treatment (during follow-up) | |||
| Methotrexate | n (%) | na | 66 (65)a |
| Duration, months | Mean (SD) | na | 49.2 (21.7) |
| Sulfasalazine | n (%) | na | 28 (27)a |
| Duration, months | Mean (SD) | na | 40.3 (25.2) |
| TNF inhibitors | n (%) | na | 20 (20)a |
| Duration, months | Mean (SD) | na | 18.2 (11.3) |
| Other | n (%) | na | 44 (43)a |
| Disease activity | |||
| DAS-28 | Mean (SD) | 5.4 (1.3) | 3.6 (1.2) |
| ESR, mm/h | Median (range) | 27 (2–85) | 18 (2–93) |
| CRP, mg/L | Median (range) | 11 (0–175) | 5 (9–72) |
| Mean ESR, mm/h | Mean (SD) | na | 20.9 (11.8) |
| Mean CRP, mg/L | Mean (SD) | na | 12.6 (10.9) |
| Osteoporosis/osteopeniac | |||
| Osteoporosis (T-score < −2.5) | n (%) | 36 (35) | na |
| Osteopenia (T-score < −1.5 and >−2.5) | N (%) | 26 (26) | na |
| Fractures | |||
| Vertebral (Genant) | n (%) | 15 (25) | 32 (33) |
| Non-vertebral | n (%) | 24 (24) | 35 (35) |
na not applicable
aUsed for at least 1 month during the 5-year follow-up period
bUsing at follow-up
cT-scores at either total hip and/or vertebral spine