Table 1 Patients’ characteristics at baseline

Age [years]#

56.5 ± 13.1* (19-83)

55.5 ± 12.9* (19-83)

57.0 ± 13.3* (19-83)

0.209^c

Sex (female) [%]

80.2 %* (349)

72.5%* (100)

83.8%* (249)

0.009^a

BMI [kg/m²]#

26.5 ± 5.1** (16-52)

26.5 ± 4.9** (17-45)

26.5 ± 5.2* (16-52)

0.825^c

Disease duration [years]#

8.2 ± 9.1*(0-58.3)

0.9 ± 0.6* (0-2)

11.6 ± 9.2* (2.1-58.3)

DAS28#

4.70 ± 1.39** (1-8)

4.75 ± 1.39** (2-8)

4.67 ± 1.40** (1-8)

0.473^c

ESR [mm/h]#

28.9 ± 20.7* (1-115)

30.2 ± 22.0* (2-88)

28.3 ± 20.1** (1-115)

0.575^c

CRP [mg/l]#

16.2 ± 22.1*** (0-162)

20.4 ± 29.4*** (0-162)

14.2 ± 17.4*** (0-120)

0.249^c

RF (positive) [%]

69.2%* (301)

58.7%* (81)

74.1%* (220)

0.004^a

ACPA (positive) [%]

66.0%** (287)

64.5%* (89)

66.7% **(198)

0.395^a