Table 1 Characteristics of the patient population

Age, years

62.7 ± 12.4

64.5 (31~85)

Disease duration, years

13.6 ± 11.5

11.25 (0.4~64.3)

Women

140 patients (82.4%)

Steinbrocker‘s stage, I/II/III/IV

23 (13.5%)/53 (31.2%)/27 (15.9%)/67 (39.4%)

Steinbrocker’s class, 1/2/3/4

41 (24.1%)/103 (60.6%)/25 (14.7%)/1 (0.01%)

Rheumatoid factor positive

133 (78.2%)

Anti-citrullinated protein antibody positive

135 (79.4%)

C-reactive protein, mg/dl

0.61 ± 1.13

0.1 (0~5.4)

Erythrocyte sedimentation rate, mm/h

25.4 ± 21.1

18.5 (0~117)

Tender joint count, 0 to 28joints

1.1 ± 2.0

0 (0~14)

Swollen joint count, 0 to 28joints

1.2 ± 1.7

0 (0~9)

Patient’s global assessment, 0 to 100 mm

36.8 ± 26.3

32 (1~100)

Evaluator’s global assessment, 0 to 100 mm

14.6 ± 15.1

10 (0~73)

Disease activity score in 28 joints at endpoint

3.05 ± 1.22

2.94 (0.00~5.90)

Simplified disease activity index at endpoint

7.99 ± 6.51

5.90 (0.20~30.40)

Clinical disease activity index at endpoint

7.37 ± 5.97

5.75 (0.20~28.00)

Health Assessment Questionnaire disability index, 0 to 3

0.90 ± 0.76

0.8125 (0~3)

Sharp/van der Heijde score at baseline

109.5 ± 101.1

77.5 (1~398)

Sharp/van der Heijde score at endpoint

112.7 ± 101.6

79.5 (2~401)

Annual change of Sharp/van der Heijde score

3.6 ± 7.9

1 (− 8~58)

Use of glucocorticoid

76 (44.7%)

Use of methotrexate

141 (70.6%)

Use of biologics

62 (36.5%)

 TNF inhibitors

40 (23.5%)

 Tocilizumab

12 (7.1%)

 Abatacept

10 (5.9%)