CRP and rheumatoid arthritis: At baseline, patients with early RA were significantly younger (mean 56.6 vs. 58.9 years) had higher DAS28-ESR (mean 4.6 vs. 4.1), CDAI (mean 22.8 vs. 19.4), higher ESR (mean 25.3 vs. 22.2), C-reactive protein (CRP) (mean 14.5 vs. 11.2), and were more likely to use concurrent steroids (23.5% vs. 17.4%).