Table 2 Characteristics of study population at baseline and after 12 months follow-up according to vitamin D status at the time of RA diagnosis

Age, mean ± SD

51.3 ± 13.1

46.0 ± 11.2

ns^

-

-

-

Sex, M/F

2/11

3/22

ns*

-

-

-

BMI (Kg/m²), mean ± SD

25.5 ± 5.2

25.5 ± 4.2

ns^

-

-

-

Vitamin D (ng/ml), mean ± SD

12.4 ± 3.4

30.4 ± 9.9

0.0001^

-

-

-

Disease Duration (weeks), mean ± SD

21.6 ± 12.8

23.8 ± 18.1

ns^

-

-

-

Morning stiffness (minutes), mean ± SD

56.6 ± 49.4

83.6 ± 102.2

ns^

38.3 ± 27.2

12.1 ± 15.8

0.002^

ESR (mm/h), mean ± SD

25.9 ± 13.1

35.5 ± 25.4

ns^

15 ± 10

13.4 ± 12.9

ns^

CRP (g/L), mean ± SD

8.2 ± 8.2

16.4 ± 19.3

ns^

5.1 ± 4.2

4.1 ± 4.7

ns^

RF positivity, number (%)

11 (85%)

20 (83%)

ns *

9 (69%)

13 (54%)

0.002*

APCA positivity, number (%)

11 (85%)

19 (79%)

ns*

10 (77%)

18 (75%)

ns*

Ritchie Index, mean ± SD

10.5 ± 8.45

9.71 ± 8.32

ns^

4.25 ± 3.52

1.62 ± 2.28

0.004^

VAS pain (mm), mean ± SD

64.2 ± 19.9

60.8 ± 27

ns^

61.4 ± 31.2

20.1 ± 25.1

0.001^

VAS disease patient (mm), mean ± SD

58 ± 23.6

57.8 ± 24.4

ns^

48.7 ± 27.3

21.6 ± 22.3

0.004^

EGA (mm), mean ± SD

52.7 ± 26.2

54.8 ± 18.3

ns^

36 ± 20.5

17.6 ± 18.5

0.01^

Global Health, mean ± SD

48.6 ± 22.3

63.9 ± 17.3

ns^

35 ± 16.2

17.3 ± 11.8

0.03^

Number of tender joints (0–44), median (range)

11.5 (2–35)

11.5 (0–33)

ns^

6 (1–19)

1 (0–13)

0.002^

Number of swollen joints (0–44), median (range)

5 (1–22)

5.5 (0–13)

ns^

1.5 (0–9)

0 (0–8)

0.02^

Number of tender joints (0–28), median (range)

7 (2–24)

7.5 (0–23)

ns^

3.5 (1–11)

0 (0–4)

0.001^

Number of swollen joints (0–28), median (range)

3.5 (1–20)

5 (0–13)

ns^

1.5 (0–8)

0 (0–8)

0.01^

DAS 28 score, mean ± SD

5.1 ± 0.7

5.2 ± 1.2

ns^

3.6 ± 1.03

2.3 ± 0.9

0.001^

Remission (DAS28 < 2.6), number (%)

-

-

-

2 (16)

16 (68)

0.001

Low disease activity (DAS28 2.6-3.2), number (%)

0 (0)

1 (4.2)

2 (15)

4 (16)

Moderate disease activity (DAS 28 3.2-5.1), number (%)

10 (77)

11 (45.8)

8 (62)

3 (12)

High disease activity (DAS28 > 5.6), number (%)

4 (23)

12 (50)

1 (8)

1 (4)

Good responders, number (%)

-

-

-

0 (0)

1 (4)

Moderate responders, number (%)

-

-

-

10 (75)

23 (96)

No responders, number (%)

-

-

-

3 (25)

0 (0)

Ultrasound Total Synovitis score, mean ± SD

26.5 ± 31.3

25.4 ± 17.4

ns^

14.3 ± 15.6

8.1 ± 6.2

ns ^

Ultrasound Total power Doppler score, mean ± SD

4.6 ± 8.9

2.7 ± 4.2

ns^

0.83 ± 1.32

0.57 ± 1.26

ns^

Ultrasound Total Erosion score, mean ± SD

1.2 ± 2.3

1.4 ± 3

ns^

11.8 ± 6.4

9.6 ± 11.2

ns^