Table 1. Patients’ characteristics, current treatment, and disease activity.
| Patients’ characteristics | ||
| Age, mean ± SD years | 58.4 ± 14.6 | |
| Female, n (%) | 60 (78.9) | |
| Disease duration, median (IQR) months | 24 (8–63.75) | |
| RF positive, n (%) | 64 (84.2) | |
| ACPA positive, n (%) | 59 (77.6) | |
| Concomitant autoimmune disease, n (%) | 11 (14.5) | |
| Current treatment | ||
| Treatment naïve, n (%) | 17 (22.4) | |
| Methotrexate, n (%) | 39 (51.3) | |
| Dose, median (IQR) mg/week | 10 (8–12) | |
| Salazosulfapyridine (Sulfasalazine), n (%) | 19 (25.0) | |
| Bucillamine, n (%) | 4 (5.3) | |
| Tacrolimus, n (%) | 3 (3.9) | |
| Auranofin, n (%) | 1 (1.3) | |
| TNF antagonist, n (%) | 8 (10.5) | |
| Tocilizumab, n (%) | 4 (5.3) | |
| Abatacept, n (%) | 3 (3.9) | |
| Corticosteroid, n (%) | 22 (28.9) | |
| Dose, median (IQR) mg/day (prednisolone equivalent) | 4.5 (2.375–5) | |
| NSAID, n (%) | 42 (55.3) | |
| Disease activity | ||
| Swollen joint count/ 28, median (IQR) | 2.5 (1–4) | |
| Tender joint count/ 28, median (IQR) | 2 (0–4.75) | |
| Patient’s global assessment VAS, mean ± SD mm | 39.4 ± 23.1 | |
| Physician’s global assessment VAS, mean ± SD mm | 36.3 ± 22.8 | |
| Serum C-reactive protein (CRP) level, median (IQR) mg/dL | 0.3 (0.0–1.1) | |
| DAS28-CRP, median (IQR) | 3.1 (2.1–4.2) | |
| SDAI, median (IQR) | 12.8 (7–20.675) | |
SD, standard deviation; IQR, interquartile range; RF, rheumatoid factor; ACPA, anti-citrullinated protein antibody; DMARD, disease modifying anti-rheumatic drug; TNF, tumor necrosis factor; VAS, visual analogue scale; DAS28, Disease Activity Score 28; SDAI, Simplified Disease Activity Index