CRP and rheumatoid arthritis: Compared with the patients with established RA, the patients with early RA exhibited higher disease activity scores [disease activity score in 28 joints with four variables including C-reactive protein (DAS28-CRP): median 4.76 vs. 3.93, P < 0.001] and a higher prevalence of physical dysfunction (26.3 vs. 19.4%, P = 0.035).