Table 1.
Baseline demographic and clinical characteristics of the study population.
| n = 535 patients | |
|---|---|
| Age, mean (SD) | 59.3 (14.8) |
| Female gender, n. (%) | 388 (72.5) |
| Symptoms duration, weeks, median (IQR) | 15.6 (9.4–28) |
| SJC28, median (IQR) | 7 (4–11) |
| TJC28, median (IQR) | 6 (3–11.3) |
| DAS28, mean (SD) | 4.92 (1.18) |
| SDAI, mean (SD) | 29.33 (13.50) |
| VAS pain, median (IQR) (0–100) | 54 (40–80) |
| PGA, median (IQR) (0–10) | 6 (4.1–8) |
| PhGA, median (IQR) (0–10) | 4.8 (3.5–6) |
| HAQ, median (IQR) (0–3) | 1.125 (0.625–1.75) |
| ESR, mm/1 h, median (IQR) | 24 (14–41) |
| CRP, mg/dl, median (IQR) | 0.88 (0.31–2.31) |
| RF positive, n (%) | 232 (43.4) |
| ACPA positive, n (%) | 179 (33.5) |
| RF and ACPA double-positive, n (%) | 149 (27.9) |
| RF and ACPA double-negative, n (%) | 271 (50.7) |
| Erosion SHS ⩾1, n (%) | 205 (38.3) |
| US-GS score, median (IQR) (0–36) | 7 (4–11) |
| US-PD score, median (IQR) (0–36) | 3 (0–8) |
ACPA, anti-citrullinated protein antibodies; CRP, C-reactive protein; DAS28, diseases activity score on 28 joints; ESR, erythrocyte sedimentation rate; GS, gray scale; HAQ, health assessment questionnaire; IQR, interquartile range; PD, power Doppler; PGA, patient global assessment; PhGA, physician global assessment; RF, rheumatoid factor; SD, standard deviation; SDAI, simplified disease activity index; SHS, Sharp van der Heijde score; SJC28, swollen joint count on 28 joints; TJC28, tender joint count on 28 joints; US, ultrasonography; VAS, visual analogue scale.