Matrix to predict rapid radiographic progression of early rheumatoid arthritis patients from the community treated with methotrexate or leflunomide: results from the ESPOIR cohort

Table 4 Association of main baseline characteristics of patients with early RA and rapid radiographic progression (RRP) of rheumatoid arthritis (univariate analysis).

	With RRP (number = 41)	Without RRP (number = 329)	P value^a
Age, years	49.8 ± 12 (52.7)	49.3 ± 11.5 (7)	0.6
Sex	31 (75.6%)	240 (73%)	0.85
Disease duration, weeks	18.6 ± 8.4 (18.6)	14.7 ± 8.1 (13)	0.007
SJC in 28 joints	8.6 ± 6.1 (8)	7.8 ± 5.3 (7)	0.5
< 14	31 (75.6)	285 (86.6)
14 to 20	6 (14.6)	32 (9.7)	0.08
≥ 20	4 (12.2)	12 (3.6)
TJC in 28 joints	8.3 ± 6.3 (7)	8.7 ± 6.9 (7)	0.97
ESR, mm/1 hr	32.6 ± 21.3 (30)	32.7 ± 25.4 (25)	0.5
CRP, mg/L	26.2 ± 27.9 (14)	24.6 ± 38.7 (11)	0.12
< 4	4 (9.7)	89 (27.1)
4 to 35	25 (61)	168 (51.1)	0.04
≥ 35	12 (29.3.8)	72 (21.9)
Elevated ESR or CRP level	38 (90.3)	289 (87.8)	0.45
DAS28(ESR)-4v	5.3 ± 1.2 (5.4)	5.3 ± 1.2 (5.2)	0.8
RF positivity	29 (70.7)	175 (53.2)	0.04
ACPA positivity	31 (75.6)	154 (46.8)	0.0008
RF or ACPA positivity	32 (78)	190 (57.8)	0.01
HAQ score	0.95 ± 0.6 (1)	1.04 ± 0.7 (1)	0.5
Typical RA erosion	18 (44)	48 (14.6)	< 0.0001
Prednisone ≥ 7.5 mg/d	2 (4.9)	35 (10.6)	0.4
≥ 5 mg/d	7 (17.7)	91 (27.7)	0.19
Delay before 1st DMARD initiation ≥ 6 months after RA onset	22 (53.7)	147 (44.7)	0.32
Satisfaction of 2010 ACR/EULAR criteria	38 (92.7)	278 (84.5)	0.24

Data are mean ± SD (median) or number (%). RRP-positive status was defined by progression of the vSHS total score ≥ 5 points between baseline and one year (of note, among the 46 patients with RRP, 44 had progression with vSHS erosion score ≥ 5 points and 13 with vSHS narrowing score ≥ 5 points). ^aStudent t test or Mann-Whitney U test for continuous variables and Fischer exact test for categorical variables, with P < 0.1. ACPA, anti-citrullinated protein antibody; ACR/EULAR, American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism; CRP, C-reactive protein; DAS28(ESR)-4v, Disease Activity Score in 28 joints-4 variables, using erythrocyte sedimentation rate; DMARD, disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs; ESR, erythrocyte sedimentation rate; HAQ, Health Assessment Questionnaire; RF, rheumatoid factor; SJC, swollen joint count; TJC, tender joint count; vSHS, van der Heijde-modified Sharp score.

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