Table 2 Patients characteristics at first visit and week 24 in sustained remission for patients in sustained clinical remission of 24 weeks or longer according to the DAS28 and SDAI definition of remission

Disease activity score using 28-joint counts including CRP (DAS28)

2.1 ± 0.3 (1.21–2.6)

1.9 ± 0.3 (1.01–2.59)

P <0.01

1.8 ± 0.28 (1.21–2.72)

1.7 ± 0.2 (1.21–2.72)

P <0.01

Simplified disease activity index (SDAI)

4.3 ± 2.8 (0.3–16.1)

3.2 ± 2.5 (0.1–18.2)

P <0.01

1.9 ± 0.9 (0.1–3.3)

1.3 ± 0.8 (0.1–3.24)

P <0.01

Health assessment questionnaire (HAQ)

0.28 ± 0.4 (0–2.25)

0.20 ± 0.4 (0–1.92)

P <0.01

0.15 ± 0.3 (0–2.25)

0.11 ± 0.3 (0–1.75)

P <0.01

Swollen joint count 28 joints (SJC28)

1.3 ± 2.2 (0–15)

0.8 ± 2.0 (0–17)

P <0.01

0.3 ± 0.5 (0–2)

0.2 ± 0.4 (0–2)

P <0.01

Tender joint count 28 joints (TJC28)

0.4 ± 0.7 (0–3)

0.2 ± 0.5 (0–3)

P <0.01

0.2 ± 0.5 (0–2)

0.1 ± 0.4 (0–2)

P <0.01

Visual analogue scale for pain (VAS pain in mm)

8.8 ± 10.9 (0–80)

6.9 ± 8.5 (0–64)

P <0.01

4.4 ± 6.1 (0–53)

3.0 ± 4.0 (0–24)

P <0.01

Patient global assessment of disease activity (PGA in mm)

11 ± 11.8 (0–70)

8.8 ± 9.6 (0–57)

P <0.01

4.5 ± 5.4 (0–27)

3.5 ± 4.9 (0–30)

P <0.01

Evaluator global assessment of disease activity (EGA in mm)

10.2 ± 10.3 (0–92)

7.7 ± 8.9 (0–93)

P <0.01

4.4 ± 4.7 (0–24)

3.1 ± 3.7 (0–17)

P <0.01

C-reactive protein (CRP, mg/dL)

0.50 ± 0.6 (0.1–9.4)

0.52 ± 0.5 (0.1–4.3)

P = 0.46

0.49 ± 0.4 (0.1–2.92)

0.50 ± 0.4 (0.1–3.8)

P = 0.69