Table 1 Demographic characteristics of the treatment groups

Age (year): mean (S.D.)

11.8 (2.0)

13.8 (2.4)

Z = −3.79

<0.001

Gender (male)

9 (18.0%)

12 (29.3%)

χ²(1) = 1.04

0.31

JIA subtype:

χ²(6) = 13.0

0.04

Systemic arthritis

5 (10.0%)

9 (22.0%)

Oligoarthritis persistent

11 (22.0%)

1 (2.4%)

Oligoarthritis extended

9 (18.0%)

9 (22.0%)

Polyarthritis (RF-negative)

22 (44.0%)

17 (41.5%)

Polyarthritis (RF-positive)

0 (0.0%)

1 (2.4%)

Psoriatic arthritis

1 (2.0%)

2 (4.9%)

Enthesitis-related arthritis

0 (0.0%)

2 (4.9%)

Data on subtype n.a.

2 (4.0%)

Disease duration (year): mean (S.D.)^a

5.2 (3.6)

8.0 (3.6)

Z = −3.23

0.001

Current use of medication:

NSAID use:

41 (82.0%)

17 (41.5%)

χ²(1) = 14.31

<0.001

Use of other analgesics:

10 (20.0%)

15 (36.6%)

χ²(1) = 2.33

0.13

Methotrexate use:

18 (36.0%)

17 (41.5%)

χ²(1) = 0.10

0.75

Anti-TNF agents use:

Etanercept

31 (75.6%)

Adalimumbab

3 (7.3%)

Infliximab

3 (7.3%)

Treatment time with anti-TNF agents (year)

2.4 (1.8)