Baseline characteristics
| n | Overall n=625 | Etanercept n=345 | Infliximab n=181 | Adalimumab n=99 | P value Etanercept versus Infliximab | P value Etanercept versus Adalimumab | |
| Females (n (%)) | 625 | 334 (53) | 176 (51) | 103 (57) | 55 (56) | 0.2 | 0.4 |
| Age (years) | 625 | 45.8 (11.1) | 46.1 (11.0) | 45.2 (10.9) | 46.5 (11.7) | 0.4 | 0.7 |
| Disease duration (years) | 615 | 12.4 (8.6) | 12.9 (9.0) | 12.1 (8.1) | 11.2 (8.2) | 0.3 | 0.09 |
| Previously used csDMARDs* | 625 | 3 (2–4) | 3 (2–4) | 3 (2–4) | 3 (2–4) | 0.3 | 0.8 |
| Current smoker (n (%)) | 500 | 107 (21.4) | 56 (20.5) | 35 (23.8) | 16 (20) | 0.4 | 0.9 |
| Comorbidity† (n (%)) | 623 | 289 (46.4) | 158 (45.9) | 84 (56.7) | 47 (46.3) | 0.3 | 0.7 |
| Depression | 618 | 121 (19.6) | 59 (17.3) | 42 (23.7) | 20 (20.2) | 0.08 | 0.5 |
| Comedication (n (%)) | 625 | < 0.001 | 0.4 | ||||
| None | 180 (29.1) | 137 (39.7) | 13 (7.8) | 32 (32.3) | |||
| MTX‡ | 370 (59.2) | 166 (48.1) | 151 (83.4) | 53 (53.5) | |||
| Other | 73 (11.7) | 42 (12.2) | 17 (9.39) | 14 (14.1) | |||
| Baseline steroid use (n (%)) | 625 | 76 (22.0) | 76 (22.0) | 45 (24.8) | 20 (20.2) | 0.5 | 0.7 |
| Patient global (0–100) | 593 | 71.2 (20.9) | 71.4 (20.7) | 70.4 (22.6) | 71.6 (18.3) | 0.6 | 0.9 |
| DAS28 | 581 | 6.1 (1.2) | 6.1 (1.2) | 6.2 (1.2) | 6.0 (1.0) | 0.5 | 0.5 |
| 28 tender joint count | 587 | 13 (7–19) | 13 (8–19) | 13 (8–20) | 12 (6–17) | 0.5 | 0.2 |
| 28 swollen joint count | 590 | 8 (4–13) | 8 (4–12) | 7 (4–13) | 9 (5–13) | 0.8 | 0.09 |
| ESR (mm/hour)* | 564 | 33.5 (18.5–57) | 32 (19–57) | 36.5 (10–59) | 33 (15–54) | 0.3 | 0.5 |
| CRP (mg/L)* | 253 | 23 (10–52) | 21.5 (9–50) | 26 (13–71) | 20.5 (7–39) | 0.09 | 0.4 |
| HAQ (0–3)* | 594 | 1.9 (1.4–2.3) | 1.8 (1.4–2.3) | 2.0 (1.4–2.4) | 1.8 (1.1–2.3) | 0.1 | 0.3 |
| SF-36 PCS* | 507 | 17.3 (12.1–25.1) | 17.5 (11.9–25.2) | 16.4 (11.2–23.8) | 19.4 (13.8–27.3) | 0.4 | 0.1 |
| SF-36 MCS* | 507 | 40.5 (33.7–49.3) | 40.9 (34.3–49.0) | 39.2 (31.4–47.9) | 44.1 (35.6–54.8) | 0.10 | 0.12 |
*Median (IQR).
†≥1 of (previous or current) hypertension, angina, MI, stroke, epilepsy, asthma, chronic obstructive airway disease, peptic ulcer disease, liver disease, renal disease, tuberculosis, demyelinating disease, diabetes, cancer.
‡MTX only or in combination with other DMARD. Values are mean (SD) unless stated otherwise.
CRP, C reactive protein; csDMARD, conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drug; DAS28, 28-joint Disease Activity Score; ESR, erythrocyte sedimentation rate; HAQ, Health Assessment Questionnaire; MCS, Mental Component Score; MTX, methotrexate; n, valid observations for each variable; PCS, Physical Component Score; SF-36, medical outcomes Study 36-item Short Form Health Survey.