Table 2 Treatment and disease parameters at baseline and 5 years

 DMARD (any), n (%)

138 (85)

122 (75)

77 (79)

71 (73)

 MTX, n (%)

85 (52)

97 (60)

33 (34)

52 (53)

 MTX dose (mg/week)

10.0 (7.5–10.0)

10.0 (7.5–15.0)

7.5 (5.0–10.0)

7.5 (5.0–15.0)

 Antimalarials, n (%)

47 (29)

17 (10)

39 (40)

15 (15)

 Combination (≥ 2 cDMARDs)

3 (2)

14 (9)

4 (4)

10 (10)

 Biologic, n (%)

0 (0)

26 (16)

0 (0)

9 (9)

 Prednisolone, n (%)

60 (37)

47 (29)

29 (30)

32 (33)

 Prednisolone dose (mg/day)

7.5 (5.0–15.0)

5.0 (2.5–5.0)

5.0 (5.0–10.0)

5.0 (2.5–7.5)

 COMP, units/l

11 (9–14)

NR

11 (9–14)

NR

 Modified Sharp-van der Heijde score (SHS)

2 (0–8)

17 (5–31)

1 (0–6)

16 (5–32)

 Erosion score

0 (0–2)

5 (1–10)

0 (0–1)

5 (1–10)

 Joint space narrowing (JSN) score

0 (0–6)

11 (3–22)

0 (0–5)

10 (3–21)

 Progression of SHS from baseline (≥1 unit), n (%)

N/A

140 (86)

N/A

83 (86)

 Progression of erosion score from baseline (≥1 unit), n (%)

N/A

122 (75)

N/A

71 (73)

 Progression of JSN score from baseline (≥1 unit), n (%)

N/A

122 (75)

N/A

69 (71)

 Erosions present, n (%)^a

28 (17)

63 (39)

19 (20)

39 (40)

 DAS28

4.7 (3.6–4.7)

3.5 (2.6–4.5)

4.6 (3.5–5.5)

3.5 (2.6–4.6)

 Remission, n (%)^b

12 (7.5)

39 (25)

8 (8)

24 (26)

 Low disease activity, n (%)^b

27 (16.8)

70 (45)

17 (18)

39 (42)

 Moderate disease activity, n (%)^b

75 (46.6)

63 (40)

45 (47)

39 (42)

 High disease activity, n (%)^b

59 (36.6)

23 (15)

34 (35)

15 (16)

 HAQ

0.75 (0.38–1.25)

0.75 (0.13–1.12)

0.75 (0.25–1.13)

0.75 (0.13–1.25)

 Swollen joint count (out of 28)

7 (5–11)

4 (2–7)

7 (4–11)

4 (2–8)

 Tender joint count (out of 28)

4 (2–9)

1 (0–4)

4 (1–8)

1 (0–5)

 ESR (mm/h)

22 (11–43)

15 (9–24)

22 (10–38)

15 (9–24)

 CRP (mg/l)

9 (< 9–28)

3 (< 9–10)

< 9 (< 9–21)

< 9 (< 9–12)

 Patient’s global assessment (VAS 0–100 mm)

46 (21–65)

37 (12–52)

46 (20–65)

40 (10–58)

 Pain (VAS 0–100 mm)

40 (19–61)

29 (9–48)

40 (18–62)

31 (8–51)