Patient outcomes after 3 years of follow-up
| Initial M-arm (n=52) | Initial S-arm (n=44) | Total (n=96) | |
| Disease activity | |||
| Tender joint count (28 joints) | 1.8±2.9 | 1.1±1.9 | 1.47±2.5 |
| Swollen joint count (28 joints) | 1.2±2.8 | 0.9±2.1 | 1.09±2.5 |
| ESR, mm/first hour | 18.8±2.8 | 16.6±10 | 17.8±15.7 |
| CRP, mg/L | 7.4±16,2 | 3.6±4.6 | 5.6±12.5 |
| Normal acute-phase reactant, n (%) | 30 (57.7) | 24 (54.5) | 54 (56.2) |
| DAS28 | 2.7±1.4 | 2.6±1.2 | 2.6±1.3 |
| Ongoing bDMARD treatment | |||
| ADA, n (%) | 17 (32.7) | 13 (29.5) | 30 (31.2) |
| ETA, n (%) | 24 (46.1) | 18 (40.9) | 42 (43.7) |
| Other, n (%) | 8 (15.4) | 5 (11.4) | 13 (13.5) |
| No bDMARD, n (%) | 3 (5.8) | 8 (18.2) | 11 (11.5) |
| Ongoing step | |||
| Step 0, n (%) | 23 (44.2) | 13 (29.5) | 36 (37.5) |
| Step 1, n (%) | 5 (9.6) | 5 (11.4) | 10 (10.4) |
| Step 2, n (%) | 6 (11.5) | 6 (13.6) | 12 (12.5) |
| Step 3, n (%) | 4 (7.7) | 3 (6.8) | 7 (7.3) |
| Step 4, n (%) | 3 (5.8) | 8 (18.2) | 11 (11.5) |
| Switch from initial bDMARD* | 11 (21.2) | 9 (20.5) | 20 (20.8) |
| Dose quotient | 0.74±0.34 | 0.58±0.39 | 0.66±0.36 |
| DMARDS combination, n (%) | 33 (63.5) | 36 (81.8) | 69 (71.9) |
| MTX combination, n (%) | 29 (55.8) | 33 (75) | 62 (64.6) |
| Steroid intake, n (%) | 4 (7.7) | 1 (2.3) | 5 (5.2) |
| Structural damage progression, n (%) | 6/24 (25) | 7/19 (36.8) | 13/43 (30.2) |
Data are presented as mean±SD or n (%).
Definition of the steps: ETA 50 mg every 10 days (step 1), 14 days (step 2), 3 weeks (step 3) or stopped (step 4); ADA 40 mg every 21 days (step 1), 28 days (step 2), 6 weeks (step 3) or stopped (step 4).
*Treatment switch that occurred between the start of the follow-up and the third year of follow-up.
ADA, adalimumab; bDMARD, biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drug; CRP, C reactive protein; DAS, Disease Activity Score; Dose quotient, actual total intake over a month/standard full regimen intake over a month; ESR, erythrocyte sedimentation rate; ETA, etanercept; M-arm, maintenance arm; MTX, methotrexate; S-arm, spacing arm.