Baseline characteristics in DAS ≤2.4 steered (BeSt) and DAS <1.6 steered (IMPROVED) patients
| Baseline | BeSt n=133 | IMPROVED n=175 | P values |
| Age (years), mean±SD | 55±14 | 53±15 | 0.408 |
| Female, n (%) | 88 (66) | 126 (72) | 0.271 |
| Symptom duration (weeks), median (IQR) | 23 (15–53) | 17 (8–28) | <0.001 |
| DAS, mean±SD | 4.4±0.9 | 4.1±0.7 | 0.012 |
| Tender joint count, median (IQR) | 13 (9–19) | 10 (8–14) | <0.001 |
| Swollen joint count, median (IQR) | 14 (10–18) | 11 (8–17) | 0.023 |
| ESR mm/hour, median (IQR) | 35 (17–46) | 32 (17–52) | 0.761 |
| VAS general health, mean±SD | 51±22 | 57±22 | 0.010 |
| HAQ, mean±SD | 1.4±0.7 | 1.5±0.6 | 0.114 |
| RF positive, n (%) | 86 (65) | 108 (62) | 0.999 |
| ACPA positive, n (%) | 68 (51) | 98 (56) | 0.715 |
| Total SHS, median (IQR)/mean±SD | 1.5 (0–3)/2.8±3.8 | 0 (0–3)/1.8±2.9 | 0.004 |
ACPA, anticitrullinated protein antibodies; BeSt, Behandel Strategieën (Treatment Strategies for Rheumatoid Arthritis); DAS, Disease Activity Score; ESR, erythrocyte sedimentation rate; HAQ, Health Assessment Questionnaire; IMPROVED, Induction therapy with methotrexate and Prednisone in Rheumatoid Or Very Early arthritic Disease; RF, rheumatoid factor; SHS, Sharp/van der Heijde Score; VAS, visual analogue scale.