Objectives Pain is a major symptom in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In early RA, pain is usually due to synovitis, but can also persist despite effective anti-inflammatory treatment. The objective of this study was to investigate the pain course over time and predictors of unacceptable pain and unacceptable pain with low inflammation, in patients with early RA. Methods An inception cohort of 232 patients with early RA, recruited in 1995–2005, was followed in a structured programme for 5 years. Pain was assessed using a visual analogue scale (VAS; 0–100). Unacceptable pain was defined as VAS pain > 40 based on the patient acceptable symptom state (PASS) and low inflammation as CRP < 10 mg/l. Baseline predictors of unacceptable pain were evaluated using logistic regression analysis. Results Pain improved significantly during the first 6 months, but then remained basically unchanged. Thirty-four per cent of the patients had unacceptable pain 5 years after inclusion. Baseline predictors of unacceptable pain after 5 years were lower swollen joint counts [odds ratio (OR) 0.71 per standard deviation (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.51–0.99)] and higher VAS for pain and global assessment of disease activity. Unacceptable pain with low inflammation after 5 years was negatively associated with anti-CCP antibodies [OR 0.50 (95% CI 0.22–0.98)]. Conclusion Over one third of the patients had unacceptable pain 5 years after inclusion. Lower swollen joint count was associated with unacceptable pain at 5 years. The results may be explained by the positive effects of treatment on pain related to inflammation. Non-inflammatory long-lasting pain appears to be a greater problem in anti-CCP-negative patients.

Objectives To evaluate how radiographic damage, overall and measured as joint space narrowing score (JSNS) and erosion score (ES), as well as other clinical and laboratory measures, relate to disability and pain in early rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods An inception cohort of 233 patients with early RA, recruited in 1995–2005, was followed for 5 years. Disability was assessed with the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ), and pain with a visual analogue scale (VAS; 0–100 mm). Radiographs of hands and feet were evaluated using the Sharp-van der Heijde score (SHS), including JSNS and ES. The relation for radiographic scores and other clinical parameters with pain and HAQ were evaluated cross-sectionally by multivariate linear regression analysis and over time using generalized estimating equations. Results ES was significantly associated with HAQ cross-sectionally at inclusion, after 2 and after 5 years, and over time. Associations for HAQ with SHS and JSNS were weaker and less consistent compared with those for ES. There was no association between radiographic scores and pain at any visit. Both HAQ and pain were associated with parameters of disease activity. The strongest cross-sectional associations were found for the number of tender joints (adjusted p<0.001 at all visits). Conclusion Joint damage was associated with disability already in early RA. Erosions of hands and feet appear to have a greater influence on disability compared with joint space narrowing early in the disease. Pain was associated with other factors than joint destruction in early RA, in particular joint tenderness—suggesting an impact of pain sensitization.

Objective The aim of the present study was to investigate if the relation between sex and clinical outcomes in early rheumatoid arthritis varies by autoantibody status. Methods Two inception cohorts of consecutive patients with early RA (symptom duration ≤12 months) in the Southern Region of Sweden were investigated. Patients were stratified by anti-citrullinated peptide antibody (ACPA) status. The primary outcome was remission (DAS28<2.6) at 12 months. Secondary outcomes were remission at 6 months and EULAR good response compared to baseline at 6 and 12 months. In logistic regression models, adjusted for age, DAS28 and HAQ at baseline, the relation between sex and clinical outcomes, stratified by ACPA status, was investigated. Results In total 426 patients with early RA were included, 160 ACPA-negative and 266 ACPA-positive. At 12 months, 27% of females and 24% of males with ACPA-positive RA achieved DAS28 remission. In ACPA-negative RA, 16% of females and 49% of males achieved DAS28 remission at 12 months. Males had higher odds of reaching remission at 12 months in the ACPA-negative patient group (pooled adjusted OR 4.79, 95% CI 1.97-11.6), but not in the ACPA-positive group (pooled adjusted OR 1.06, 95 % CI 0.49-2.30). Conclusion Male sex was associated with better clinical outcomes in ACPA-negative early RA, but not in ACPA-positive early RA. The poor outcomes in females with early seronegative RA suggest that this represents a difficult to treat patient group.