Table 1 Patient demographics and baseline clinical features.

Female, n (%)

29 (80.6)

16 (80.0)

12 (85.7)

1.00^b

Age (years)

69 (53–75)

69 (48–76)

69 (54–75)

0.90^a

Height (cm)

156 (152–160)

156 (152–160)

159 (154–160)

0.25^a

Weight (kg)

50 (48–57)

50 (45–57)

51 (50–57)

0.32^a

RA duration (years)

5.2 (2.3–9.8)

5.7 (2.5–9.8)

4.1 (1.6–9.7)

0.46^a

RA onset to bDMARDs (years)

1.3 (0.4–7.8)

2.6 (0.5–7.1)

0.6 (0.4–5.7)

0.24^a

bDMARD continuation (years)

2.1 (1.4–3.5)

1.9 (1.5–2.8)

2.7 (0.9–3.6)

0.83^a

Remission duration (months)

20 (9–31)

18 (10–26)

24 (9–37)

0.42^a

Failed bDMARDs, n (%)

0

26 (72.2)

14 (70.0)

10 (71.4)

1

8 (22.2)

5 (25.0)

3 (21.4)

0.95^b

2

2 (5.6)

1 (5.0)

1 (7.1)

Radiographic stage I or II, n (%)

27 (75.0)

17 (85.0)

10 (71.4)

0.41^b

Anti-CCP positive, n (%)

26 (76.5)

16 (84.2)

8 (61.5)

0.22^b

Rheumatoid factor positive, n (%)

28 (77.8)

17 (85.0)

9 (64.3)

0.23^b

Rheumatoid factor titre (IU/mL)

43.6 (15.4–110.4)

59.7 (16.2–115.1)

24.4 (6.8–62.5)

0.18^a

Tender joint count of 28 joints

0 (0–0)

0 (0–0)

0 (0–0)

1.00^a

Swollen joint count of 28 joints

0 (0–0)

0 (0–1)

0 (0–0)

0.19^a

Patient global assessment (/100)

3 (0–6)

3 (0–8)

3 (1–6)

0.76^a

Physician global assessment (/100)

0 (0–3)

1 (0–5)

0 (0–2)

0.30^a

HAQ-DI

0 (0–0)

0 (0–0)

0 (0–0.2)

0.71^a

CRP (mg/dL)

0.04 (0.01–0.09)

0.04 (0.01–0.1)

0.04 (0.02–0.06)

0.83^a

ESR (mm/ 1 h)

16 (6–27)

20 (8–35)

9 (5–18)

0.077^a

Matrix metalloproteinase-3 (ng/mL)

53.8 (22.6–89.3)

57.1 (45.2–137.9)

50.5 (44.4–68.0)

0.24^a

DAS28-ESR

2.0 (1.3–2.4)

2.3 (1.4–2.8)

1.6 (1.1–2.1)

0.058^a

SDAI

0.4 (0.2–1.5)

0.6 (0.3–2.1)

0.4 (0.1–1.2)

0.45^a

ACR/EULAR Boolean remission, n (%)

31 (86.1)

17 (85.0)

12 (85.7)

1.00^b

Ultrasound grey-scale

7 (1–10)

6 (1–12)

8 (3–10)

0.54^a

Ultrasound Power Doppler

0 (0–1)

0 (0–1)

0 (0–1)

0.88^a

Ultrasound total score

7 (1–12)

6 (1–13)

8 (3–11)

0.53^a

Discontinued bDMARDs

TNF inhibitors, n (%)

26 (72.2)

14 (70.0)

12 (85.7)

0.42^b

Adalimumab

3 (8.3)

3 (15.0)

0 (0.0)

Certolizumab pegol

2 (5.6)

0 (0.0)

2 (14.3)

Etanercept

10 (27.8)

5 (25.0)

5 (35.7)

Golimumab

5 (13.9)

2 (10.0)

3 (21.4)

Infliximab

6 (16.7)

4 (20.0)

2 (14.3)

Non-TNF inhibitors, n (%)

Abatacept

4 (11.1)

3 (15.0)

1 (7.1)

Tocilizumab

6 (16.7)

3 (15.0)

1 (7.1)

Concomitant csDMARDs, n (%)

Methotrexate

25 (69.4)

12 (60.0)

11 (78.6)

0.29^b

Methotrexate dose (mg/week in users)

8 (7–10)

9 (7–10)

8 (8–10)

0.95^b

Salazosulfapyridine

13 (36.1)

8 (40.0)

5 (35.7)

1.00^b

Bucillamine

1 (2.8)

1 (5.0)

0 (0.0)

1.00^b

Iguratimod

1 (2.8)

1 (5.0)

0 (0.0)

1.00^b

Leflunomide

1 (2.8)

1 (5.0)

0 (0.0)

1.00^b

Tacrolimus

1 (2.8)

1 (5.0)

0 (0.0)

1.00^b

csDMARDs combination

8 (22.2)

5 (25.0)

3 (21.4)

1.00^b

Concomitant glucocorticoids, n (%)

3 (8.3)

2 (10.0)

1 (7.1)

1.00^b

Concomitant NSAIDs, n (%)

5 (13.9)

4 (20.0)

1 (7.1)

0.38^b