Table 1 Patient characteristics

Mean age at diagnosis; years (SD) (range)

63.2 (8.3) (47-80)

Mean follow-up time; years (SD)

10.1 (3.5)

RF positive (%)

94/132 (71.2)

Anti-CCP positive (%)

34/57 (59.6)

Smoking at diagnosis (%)

39/118 (33.1)

Low formal education (< 8 years of school) (%)

66/128 (49.3)

Prednisolone at diagnosis (%)

39/120 (32.5)

Biological treatment ever (%)

37/133 (27.8)

Number of used DMARDS; median (IQR)

2 (1-3)

> 3 DMARDs used (%)

30 (22.4)

DMARDS in combination (%)

54 (40.3)

Documented radiographic erosions (ever) (%)

71/125 (56.8)

Severe extraarticular manifestations (%)

7 (5.2)

Median HAQ at diagnosis^a

0.87

Median HAQ 1 year after diagnosis^a

0.75

Median HAQ 5 years after diagnosis^a

0.75

Median HAQ 10 years after diagnosis^a

0.88