Table 1 Demographic and clinical features of the included population

N

449

RA/UA (n, %)

292/157 (65.03/34.97)

M/F (n, %)

123/326 (27.39/72.61)

Age, years (mean, sd)

58.59 (14.16)

RF or ACPA (n, %)

154 (37.65)

HAQ (median, IQR)

1 (0.625−1.625)

SJC 28 (median, IQR)

6 (3−10)

TJC 28 (median, IQR)

6 (2−11)

DAS28 (mean, sd)

4.75 (1.29)

ESR (median, IQR)

22 (13−39.75)

CRP (median, IQR)

0.69 (0.31−2.1)

VAS PGA (median, IQR)

57.5 (40.25−76.75)

VAS pain (median, IQR)

54 (40−80)

VAS GH (median, IQR)

56 (50−75)

VAS EGA (median, IQR)

40 (27−50.75)

Charlson Comorbidity Index (median, IQR)

1 (1−1)

Arterial hypertension (n, %)

117 (26.06)

Diabetes (n, %)

40 (8.91)

Neoplasm (n, %)

23 (5.12)

Myocardial infarction (n, %)

12 (2.67)

GC (n, %)

257 (57.24)

GC ≤7.5 mg/day (n, %)

169 (37.64)

GC >7.5 mg/day (n, %)

88 (19.6)

GC daily dose (median, IQR)

Overall sample

2.31 (0−6.87)

Patients receiving glucocorticoids

6.45 (4.17−7.83)

MTX (n, %)^a

312 (69.49)

bDMARDs (n, %)^a

10 (2.23)

Deaths (n, %)

51 (11.36)

Follow-up, months (median, IQR)

103.91 (88.03−126.71)