Table 3.
Baseline characteristics (n = 198 patients)
| Female, n (%) | 142 (71.7) |
|---|---|
| Age, years, median (IQR) | 56.2 (44.6 to 66.5) |
| Body mass index (kg/m 2 ), median (IQR) | 27.2 (24.0 to 30.8) |
| Current and former smoker, n (%) | 107 (54.0) |
| Educational status, n (%) | |
| Primary/secondary school | 79 (39.9) |
| University/technical or other tertiary education | 74 (37.4) |
| Other* | 45 (22.7) |
| Engaged in paid employment, n (%) | 92 (46.5) |
| Duration of polyarthritis, weeks, median (IQR) | 16 (12 to 27) |
| Rheumatoid factor positive, n (%) | 124 (62.6) |
| Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide positive, n (%) | 109 (56.2) |
| Shared epitope positive, n (%) | 119 (61.0) |
| DAS28-erythrocyte sedimentation rate, mean (SD) | 5.5 (1.3) |
| Low disease-activity, n (%) | 10 (5.1) |
| Moderate disease-activity, n (%) | 63 (32.3) |
| High disease-activity, n (%) | 122 (62.6) |
| Physician global assessment of disease activity, median (IQR) | 54.0 (34.0 to 70.0) |
| Erosive disease, erosion score ≥1, n (%) | 36 (23.5) |
| Sharp/van der Heijde score, median (IQR) | 2.0 (0.0 to 7.0) |
| Modified health assessment questionnaire, median (IQR) | 0.63 (0.25 to 1.13) |
| Pain VAS, median (IQR) | 57.0 (30.5 to 75.0) |
| Fatigue VAS, median (IQR) | 50.5 (23.0 to 69.0) |
| Patient global assessment of disease activity VAS, median (IQR) | 49.0 (26.0 to 64.8) |
| Rheumatology attitudes index-helplessness subscale, median (IQR) | 14.0 (10.0 to 18.3) |
| Rheumatoid arthritis quality of life score, median (IQR) | 10.0 (5.7 to 15.0) |
| Started triple DMARD therapy at baseline, n (%) | 175 (88.4) |
*Trade school or not recorded. DAS28, disease activity score in 28 joints; DMARD, disease modifying anti-rheumatic drug; Triple DMARD therapy = methotrexate + sulfasalazine + hydroxychloroquine; VAS, visual analogue scale score.