Window of opportunity to achieve major outcomes in early rheumatoid arthritis patients: how persistence with therapy matters

Table 1 Population characteristics and comparison of patients with versus without sustained remission

	Whole population (N = 107)	Patients with SR (n = 68)	Patients without SR (n = 39)	p Value^a
Sociodemographic variables
Female sex, n (%)	95 (88.8)	56 (82.4)	39 (100)	0.004
Age at baseline, years, (mean ± SD)	39.1 ± 13.3	38.6 ± 13.7	39.1 ± 13.4	0.85
Years of formal education, (mean ± SD)	11.1 ± 3.9	13.4 ± 4.1	8.6 ± 3	0.04
Current smokers, n (%) of patients	9 (8.4)	7 (10.3)	2 (22.2)	0.48
Disease characteristics at baseline^b
Disease duration, months	5 (3.4–7)	4.2 (2.9–4.9)	4.9 (2.6–6.2)	0.22
Patients with RF, n (%)	88 (82.2)	54 (79.4)	34 (87.2)	0.43
Patients with ACCP, n (%)	92 (86)	57 (83.8)	35 (89.7)	0.57
DAS28	6 (5.1–7.1)	5.7 (4.6–6.7)	7 (6.1–7.8)	0.001
HAQ	1.5 (0.9–2.1)	1.3 (0.6–2)	1.9 (1.5–2.4)	0.000
Patients with erosions, n (%)	11 (10.3)	8 (11.8)	3 (7.7)	0.74
Number (%) of patients with ≥1 comorbidity	89 (77.4)	57 (83.8)	28 (71.8)	0.15
Number of comorbidities/patient	1 (1–2)	1 (1–2)	2 (1–2.8)	0.08
Cumulative treatment characteristics^b
Patients with corticosteroids, n (%)	58 (54.2)	33 (48.5)	25 (64.1)	0.16
Number of DMARDs/patient	2.2 (1.9–2.9)	2.2 (1.7–2.8)	2.6 (2–3)	0.03
Number (%) of patients with ≥1 non-persistence period	74 (69.2)	46 (67.6)	28 (71.8)	0.83
Follow-up at first non-persistence period,^c mo	13 (1–31)	19 (7–31)	7 (1–23.5)	0.02
Persistence duration, mo^d	42 (30–48)	42 (30–48)	36(18–48)	0.07

ACCP Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies, DAS28 Disease Activity Score in 28 joints, DMARD Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug, HAQ Health Assessment Questionnaire, RF Rheumatoid factor, SD Standard deviation, SR Sustained remission
^a p < 0.05 is statistically significant
^bData are presented as median (25th–75th interquartile range) unless otherwise indicated
^cRestricted to 74 patients with ≥1 non-persistence period
^dIn the whole population

ISSN: 1478-6362