Table 2

Baseline characteristics of VARA participants at the start of each biologic treatment episode

Characteristics

Biologics only (N = 197)

Biologics or DMARDs* (N = 305)

Patient demographics

Age, years

60.9 ± 10.3

62.3 ± 10.4

Males

185 (94%)

287 (94%)

Race/ethnicity

Caucasian, non-Hispanic

159 (81%)

248 (81%)

Non-Caucasian, Hispanic

7 (4%)

8 (3%)

Black, non-Hispanic

27 (14%)

45 (15%)

American Indian or Pacific Islander

4 (2%)

4 (1%)

RA drug initiated

Abatacept

9 (5%)

9 (3%)

Adalimumab

74 (38%)

74 (24%)

Etanercept

60 (31%)

60 (20%)

Infliximab

34 (17%)

34 (11%)

Rituximab

20 (10%)

20 (7%)

Hydroxychloroquine

n/a

63 (21%)

Leflunomide

n/a

20 (7%)

Sulfasalazine

n/a

25 (8%)

RA-related characteristics

DAS28

5.0 ± 1.5

4.9 ± 1.6

CDAI (0-76)

30.2 ± 16.3

27.5 ± 15.2

Physician global (0 to 100)

51.0 ± 22.1

50.3 ± 22.6

Patient global (0 to 100)

57.4 ± 25.2

54.8 ± 24.2

Tender joint count (0 to 28)

9.6 ± 8.6

8.5 ± 7.9

Swollen joint count (0 to 28)

7.9 ± 7.2

7.8 ± 6.6

MDHAQ (0 to 3)

1.2 ± 0.6

1.2 ± 0.6

ESR, mm/hour

27.9 ± 23.3

29.9 ± 24.6

CRP, mg/dL

1.9 ± 2.4

2.1 ± 2.5

Data are n (%) or means ± SD. DMARD: disease-modifying agent; RA: rheumatoid arthritis; CDAI: Clinical Disease Activity Index; CRP: C-reactive protein; DAS28: Disease Activity Score in 28 joints; MDHAQ: Multi-Dimensional Health Assessment Questionnaire; ESR: sedimentation rate; n/a: not applicable; SD: standard deviation. *Includes hydroxychloroquine, leflunomide and sulfasalazine.

Curtis et al. Arthritis Research & Therapy 2011 13:R155   doi:10.1186/ar3471