Results of analyses for associations between disease activity measures during the 10-year trial period of BeSt and mortality in the decade following the end of BeSt
| HR (95% CI) | |
| Mean DAS* | 1.34 (0.96 to 1.86) |
| Early remission (DAS<1.6 at second study visit) | 0.89 (0.45 to 1.78) |
| Ever sustained remission (min. 1 year) | 0.69 (0.44 to 1.06) |
| Ever drug-free remission | 0.42 (0.24 to 0.73) |
| Percentage of study visits with DAS>2.4† | 1.01 (0.998 to 1.02) |
| Mean ESR | 1.02 (1.01 to 1.03) |
*Primary measure of disease activity. The HR indicates the increase in mortality risk for each point in mean DAS increase during the trial period.
†The HR represents the mortality risk increase for each per cent of study visits in high disease activity (in case of complete follow-up, 1 study visit corresponds with 2% of the study visits). All disease activity measures were tested in separate Cox analyses and adjusted for potential confounders (age, randomisation arm, ACPA, sex, ever smoking (until the end of follow-up of BeSt) and BMI). DAS measurement was available at median 35 (IQR 23 to 38) out of 41 study visits.
ACPA, anticitrullinated protein antibody; BMI, body mass index; DAS, disease activity score.