Does treatment strategy influence the ability to achieve and sustain DMARD-free remission in patients with RA? Results of an observational study comparing an intensified DAS-steered treatment strategy with treat to target in routine care

Table 2 Baseline characteristics stratified for the presence of ACPA

	ACPA-positive		p value	ACPA-negative		p value
	RA patients receiving intensified treatment (n = 92)	RA patients receiving routine care (n = 50)	p value	RA patients receiving intensified treatment (n = 63)	RA patients receiving routine care (n = 72)	p value
Age, mean (SD)	50 (12)	58 (12)	0.001	56 (16)	63 (16)	0.019
Female gender, n (%)	66 (72)	32 (64)	0.34	40 (64)	47 (65)	0.83
Symptom duration < 12 weeks, n (%)	31 (36)	12 (27)	0.31	25 (42)	28 (44)	0.82
66-SJC, median (IQR)	5 (3–10)	6 (3–8)	0.73	8 (4–15)	8 (4–14)	0.96
68-TJC, median (IQR)	11 (6–16)	8 (4–16)	0.06	16 (11–25)	14 (10–21)	0.34
ESR, median (IQR)	29 (16–41)	30 (14–44)	0.60	19 (9–41)	31 (11–52)	0.19
DAS44, median (IQR)	2.9 (2.5–3.5)	2.7 (2.4–3.1)	0.21	3.3 (2.7–4.0)	3.2 (2.6–3.8)	0.66
RF-positive, n (%)	81 (88)	40 (80)	0.20	20 (32)	18 (25)	0.39

Table depicting baseline characteristics of all patients included in the present study, stratified for ACPA status. Missings were as follows: ACPA (2), TJC (9), SJC (8), ESR (1). RA rheumatoid arthritis, SD standard deviation, SJC swollen joint count, TJC tender joint count, IQR interquartile range, ESR erythrocyte sedimentation rate, ACPA anticitrullinated protein antibody, RF rheumatoid factor