Patient characteristics at baseline presentation with CSA
| Patient characteristic | n=241 |
| Age in years, mean (SD) | 44.3 (12.9) |
| Female sex, n (%) | 187 (77.6) |
| Family history of RA, n (%) | 71 (29.5) |
| Symptom duration in weeks, median (IQR) | 18.4 (9.7–48.2) |
| Presence of morning stiffness ≥60 min * †, n (%) | 80 (33.2) |
| BMI in kg/m2, median (IQR) | 26.1 (23.6–29.9) |
| 68-TJC, median * (IQR) | 6 (3–10) |
| Current smoker, n (%) | 54 (22.4) |
| Autoantibody status | |
| ACPA-positive (>7 U/mL), n (%) | 32 (13.3) |
| IgM-RF-positive (>3.5 IU/mL), n (%) | 51 (21.2) |
| Increased CRP (>10 mg/L), n (%) | 53 (22.0) |
| Daily use of NSAIDs, n (%) | 57 (23.6) |
| Positive for EULAR definition for arthralgia suspicious for progression to RA,18 n (%) | 178 (74) |
| Baseline VAS pain score, median (IQR) | 5 (3–7) |
| Baseline HAQ score * | |
| First quartile (n=44) | <0.25 |
| Second quartile (n=62) | 0.25–0.50 |
| Third quartile (n=51) | 0.63–0.88 |
| Fourth quartile (n=47) | ≥1.0 |
Symptoms were noted by rheumatologists as reported by the patients.
↵*Missing data were as follows: morning stiffness (27), 68-TJC (4), HAQ score (37).
†The presence of symptoms refers to the presence of symptoms at the baseline visit.
ACPA, anticitrullinated peptide antibody; BMI, body mass index; CRP, C reactive protein; ESR, erythrocyte sedimentation rate; EULAR, European League Against Rheumatism; HAQ, Health Assessment Questionnaire; NSAIDs, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; RF, rheumatoid factor; RA, rheumatoid arthritis; TJC, tender joint count; VAS, Visual Analogue Scale.