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Table 1 Dose–response effect of the number of flares on functional ability and radiographic progression

From: Disease flares in rheumatoid arthritis are associated with joint damage progression and disability: 10-year results from the BeSt study

 

Frequency,

HAQ

HAQ

SHS progression baseline to year 10

n (%) patients

year 2 to year 10

at year 10

 

Total n = 480

median (IQR)

median (IQR)

median (IQR)

No. of flare A

    

  0

159 (33)

0.2 (0.0–0.6)

0.0 (0.0–0.5)

1.3 (0.0–3.1)

  1

100 (21)

0.5 (0.2–0.9)

0.4 (0.0–0.9)

2.3 (0.5–9.6)

  2

73 (15)

0.6 (0.3–0.9)

0.6 (0.1–0.9)

3.0 (0.0–10.0)

  ≥3

148 (31)

0.8 (0.4–1.1)

0.8 (0.4–1.3)

4.3 (0.5–20.1)

  p value

 

<0.001

<0.001

0.005

No. of minor flare B

    

  0

321 (67)

0.4 (0.1–0.8)

0.3 (0.0–0.9)

2.0 (0.0–6.9)

  1

89 (19)

0.6 (0.4–1.0)

0.6 (0.3–1.0)

6.0 (0.5–26.0)

  2

37 (8)

0.7 (0.3–1.1)

0.8 (0.3–1.1)

4.5 (0.1–26.8)

  ≥3

33 (7)

0.9 (0.6–1.1)

0.8 (0.4–1.3)

1.0 (0.0–13.5)

  p value

 

<0.001

<0.001

0.026

No. of major flare B

    

  0

176 (37)

0.3 (0.0–0.8)

0.0 (0.0–0.8)

1.5 (0.0–3.5)

  1

114 (24)

0.5 (0.2–0.9)

0.4 (0.0–0.9)

2.0 (0.5–10.3)

  2

68 (14)

0.6 (0.3–0.9)

0.6 (0.1–0.9)

3.5 (0.5–17.0)

  ≥3

122 (25)

0.8 (0.4–1.1)

0.8 (0.3–1.1)

4.5 (0.3–17.3)

  p value

 

<0.001

<0.001

0.009

  1. Due to drop out, not all patients had a HAQ at year 10 available, or a SHS progression score from baseline to year 10
  2. ‘Flare A’ defined as DAS >2.4, with an increase in DAS of at least 0.6 from a previous DAS of any value. ‘Minor flare B’ defined as DAS >2.4, from a previous DAS ≤2.4 with an increase of DAS <0.6. ‘Major flare B’ defined as DAS >2.4 from a previous DAS ≤2.4 with an increase in DAS ≥0.6
  3. IQR interquartile range, HAQ health assessment questionnaire, SHS Sharp/ van der Heijde score