| Clinical Manifestations |
Early treatment (n=121) |
Late treatment (n=266) |
p value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration of RA, mean (SD) years | 15.8 (91.0) | 14.6 (10.9) | 0.834 |
| Joint deformities/contractures, % | 35.5 | 55.3 | <0.001 |
| Radiographic evidence of joint damage, % | 60.8 | 69.0 | 0.146 |
| Positive RF and/or anti-CCP antibodies, % | 67.6 | 75.9 | 0.222 |
| Extra-articular manifestations, % | 43.8 | 54.1 | 0.059 |
| Ocular | 29.8 | 37.6 | 0.134 |
| Pulmonary | 5.0 | 8.3 | 0.244 |
| Cardiac | 0.0 | 0.75 | 1.000 |
| Neurologic | 20.7 | 19.2 | 0.733 |
| Subcutaneous nodules | 19.0 | 29.7 | 0.027 |
| Intra-articular steroid injections, % | 40.0 | 54.5 | 0.008 |
| Joint replacement surgery, % | 9.2 | 22.6 | 0.002 |
| RA exacerbations, mean (SD) | 1.8 (2.8) | 2.4 (3.1) | 0.112 |
| Hospitalizations, mean (SD) | 0.1 (0.0) | 0.2 (0.0) | 0.150 |
| DAS28, mean (SD) | 3.5 (1.5) | 3.7 (1.5) | 0.357 |
| Clinical remission (DAS28 < 2.6), % | 24.8 | 22.6 | 0.629 |
| Patient’s functional status, HAQ, mean (SD) | 0.9 (0.7) | 1.2 (0.8) | <0.001 |
| Patient’s global assessment, mean (SD) | 41.1 (28.1) | 46.2 (30.0) | 0.117 |
| Physician’s global assessment, mean (SD) | 17.1 (19.4) | 22.0 (22.3) | 0.041 |
| Physician’s assessment of functional impairment, mean (SD) | 16.3 (19.8) | 25.1 (24.5) | <0.001 |
| Physician’s assessment of physical damage, mean (SD) | 14.3 (18.1) | 24.1 (25.7) | <0.001 |