Generalized bone loss in early rheumatoid arthritis patients followed for ten years in the biologic treatment era

Table 2 Disease measures and treatment in 92 early rheumatoid arthritis patients followed for 10 years

	Period 0–2 years (n = 92)	Period 2–10 years (n = 74)	P value
Mean ESR (mm/hr)	21.2 (12.0)^†	13.2 (6.8)^‡	<0.001
Mean CRP (mg/dl)	18.8 (14.9)^†	8.1 (7.0)^‡	<0.001
Mean CRP (mg/dl)	14.7 [18.0]	5.5 [8.6]	<0.001
Mean DAS28ESR3	4.17 (0.88)^†	2.92 (0.82)^‡	<0.001
Mean MHAQ (0–3)	0.42 (0.30)^†	0.27 (0.27)^‡	<0.001
Mean MHAQ (0–3)	0.33 [0.45]	0.18 [0.42]	<0.001
Ever users synthetic DMARDs	84 (91.3)	66 (89.2)	<0.001
Ever users methotrexate	71 (77.2)	61 (82.4)	<0.001
Ever users biologic DMARDs	17 (18.5)*	46 (62.6)**	<0.001
Ever users prednisolone	57 (62.0)	38 (51.4)	<0.001
Ever users any GC***	76 (82.6)	59 (79.7)	0.400
Mean prednisolone equivalent dose (gram)****	4.56 (4.71)	7.29 (10.53)	0.012
	2.77 [7.50]	2.09 [11.53]

Continuous variables with normal distribution are presented as mean with standard deviation (SD) whereas variables with non-normal distribution also are presented as median with interquartile range [IQR]. Categorical variables are presented as numbers and percentage (%).
^†Calculated from baseline, 6 months and 2 years data.
^‡Calculated from 2 years 5 years and 10 years data.
*All treated with tumor necrosis factor inhibitors.
**All treated with tumor necrosis factor inhibitors, 6 patients also had been treated with other biologic DMARDs (rituximab and/or tocilizumab).
***Includes prednisolone, intraarticular and intramuscular GC injections.
****The cumulative doses of any GC given were calculated and transformed into prednisolone equivalent doses.
ESR: Erythrocyte sedimentation rate; CRP: C-reactive protein; DAS28ESR3: Disease activity score based on 28 joint count (swollen and tender joints) and ESR MHAQ: Modified health assessment questionnaire; DMARDs: Disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs; GC: Glucocorticosteroids.

ISSN: 1471-2474