Table 2 Baseline characteristics of VARA participants at the start of each biologic treatment episode
Characteristics | Biologics only (N= 197) | Biologics or DMARDs* (N= 305) |
|---|---|---|
Patient demographics | Â | Â |
   Age, years | 60.9 ± 10.3 | 62.3 ± 10.4 |
   Males | 185 (94%) | 287 (94%) |
   Race/ethnicity |  |  |
   Caucasian, non-Hispanic | 159 (81%) | 248 (81%) |
   Non-Caucasian, Hispanic | 7 (4%) | 8 (3%) |
   Black, non-Hispanic | 27 (14%) | 45 (15%) |
   American Indian or Pacific Islander | 4 (2%) | 4 (1%) |
RA drug initiated | Â | Â |
   Abatacept | 9 (5%) | 9 (3%) |
   Adalimumab | 74 (38%) | 74 (24%) |
   Etanercept | 60 (31%) | 60 (20%) |
   Infliximab | 34 (17%) | 34 (11%) |
   Rituximab | 20 (10%) | 20 (7%) |
   Hydroxychloroquine | n/a | 63 (21%) |
   Leflunomide | n/a | 20 (7%) |
   Sulfasalazine | n/a | 25 (8%) |
RA-related characteristics | Â | Â |
   DAS28 | 5.0 ± 1.5 | 4.9 ± 1.6 |
   CDAI (0-76) | 30.2 ± 16.3 | 27.5 ± 15.2 |
   Physician global (0 to 100) | 51.0 ± 22.1 | 50.3 ± 22.6 |
   Patient global (0 to 100) | 57.4 ± 25.2 | 54.8 ± 24.2 |
   Tender joint count (0 to 28) | 9.6 ± 8.6 | 8.5 ± 7.9 |
   Swollen joint count (0 to 28) | 7.9 ± 7.2 | 7.8 ± 6.6 |
   MDHAQ (0 to 3) | 1.2 ± 0.6 | 1.2 ± 0.6 |
   ESR, mm/hour | 27.9 ± 23.3 | 29.9 ± 24.6 |
   CRP, mg/dL | 1.9 ± 2.4 | 2.1 ± 2.5 |