Table 2.

Changes in clinical and laboratory parameters

Parameter	Visit	Conventional DMARD group (n = 406)	Biologic DMARD group (n = 396)	p value
TJC, n (0–28)	Baseline	6.9 ± 4.4	10.2 ± 6.1	< 0.0001
	6 mon	3.4 ± 4.0	4.2 ± 4.8	0.0589
	12 mon	2.6 ± 3.7	2.9 ± 4.1	0.9262
SJC, n (0–28)	Baseline	5.3 ± 3.5	7.4 ± 5.0	< 0.0001
	6 mon	2.1 ± 2.6	2.5 ± 3.3	0.3655
	12 mon	1.6 ± 2.4	2.0 ± 3.0	0.2038
CRP, mg/dL	Baseline	2.84 ± 5.51	2.59 ± 3.48	0.2168
	6 mon	2.49 ± 22.17	1.36 ± 3.88	0.2189
	12 mon	1.65 ± 9.97	1.53 ± 6.95	0.7348
ESR, mm/hr	Baseline	51.7 ± 26.3	58.6 ± 26.0	0.0002
	6 mon	34.0 ± 23.7	41.3 ± 28.4	0.0002
	12 mon	33.2 ± 23.6	39.0 ± 27.4	0.0048
DAS28-ESR	Baseline	4.70 ± 0.71	5.23 ± 0.80	< 0.0001
	6 mon	3.42 ± 1.09	3.70 ± 1.16	0.0012
	12 mon	3.22 ± 1.03	3.38 ± 1.16	0.0609
PGA, cm (0–10)	Baseline	5.3 ± 2.1	6.0 ± 2.2	< 0.0001
	6 mon	3.6 ± 2.3	3.9 ± 2.4	0.1615
	12 mon	3.3 ± 2.2	3.4 ± 2.4	0.7670
HAQ	Baseline	1.00 ± 0.73	1.33 ± 0.75	< 0.0001
	6 mon	0.66 ± 0.63	0.91 ± 0.70	< 0.0001
	12 mon	0.61 ± 0.63	0.85 ± 0.71	< 0.0001

Values are presented as mean ± SD.

DMARD, disease-modifying antirheumatic drug; TJC, tender joint count; SJC, swollen joint count; CRP, C-reactive protein; ESR, erythrocyte sedimentation rate; DAS, disease activity score; PGA, patient global assessment; HAQ, Health Assessment Questionnaire.