Table 2 Baseline characteristics of patients from the three cohorts, ranked by median HAQ score

n = 224

n = 453

n = 795

p-value*

Age (years)

59 (44, 66)

62 (53, 69)

59 (51, 67)

<0.001

Disease duration (years)

0.16 (0.12, 0.19)

11 (7, 16)

9 (3, 18)

<0.001

Female gender, n(%)

160 (72%)

308 (68%)

604 (76%)

0.009†

HAQ

1.3(0.6, 1.6)

1.5 (0.9, 2.0)

1.8 (1.1, 2.1)

<0.001

DAS28

5.5 (4.8, 6.4)

4.0 (3.2, 4.9)

6.0 (5.1, 6.8)

<0.001

28-Tender joint count

9 (5, 15)

3 (1, 8)

12 (6, 19)

<0.001

28-Swollen joint count

8 (5, 12)

3 (1, 6)

7 (4, 12)

<0.001