Table 2.

Longitudinal effect of MTX plus bDMARD combination therapy compared with bDMARD monotherapy

Outcome	DAS28* β (95% CI)	RAPID3* β (95% CI)	DAS28 <2.6† OR (95% CI)	RAPID3 ≤3.0† β (95% CI)	SJC* β (95% CI)	ESR* β (95% CI)	TJC* β (95% CI)	PGA* β (95% CI)
Basic model‡	−0.39 (−0.65 to −0.13)	−0.60 (−1.71 to 0.52)	1.63 (1.10 to 2.42)	1.17 (0.53 to 2.57)	−1.10 (−2.10 to −0.19)	−2.59 (−5.60 to 0.41)	−0.47 (−1.75 to 0.82)	−0.11 (−0.59 to 0.38)
Adjusted model§	−0.42 (−0.67 to −0.17)	−0.58 (−0.65 to 049)	1.55 (1.03 to 2.31)	1.16 (0.55 to 2.42)	−0.91 (−1.77 to −0.06)	−1.90 (−4.87 to 1.08)	−0.52 (−1.84 to 0.80)	¶

*Linear longitudinal generalised estimating equation (GEE) models were used for continuous outcomes; numbers shown are continuous status scores.

†Logistic longitudinal GEE models were used for binominal variables; numbers shown are ORs.

‡Non-adjusted model.

§Model of each component was adjusted for a priori selected possible confounders: age, gender, drugs for comorbidities (1/0), oral glucocorticosteroids (1/0) and use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

¶No result; model failed to converge.

**Statistical significant results shown in bold.

DAS28, 28-joint Disease Activity Score; ESR, erythrocyte sedimentation rate; MTX, methotrexate; PGA, patient global assessment; RAPID3, Routine Assessment of Patient Index Data 3; SJC, swollen joint count; TJC, tender joint count; bDMARD, biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drug.