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Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) needs early treatment to improve clinical outcome by reducing joint damage, radiographic progression and disability. The aim of this study was to evaluate the 2010 Rheumatoid Arthritis Classification Criteria for its ability to classify RA patients, in their early stages, not exceeding 12 months of disease progression.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients were selected from August to December 2010, among those coming for their follow‐up. The inclusion criteria were patients with not more than 12 months of disease progression at their first evaluation. Patients were selected from four rheumatology subspecialty clinics.

Nine hundred and ninety‐seven patients with a confirmed diagnosis of RA entered the study. The female‐to‐male ratio was 4.3/1.0. Mean age was 46.4 years. Mean disease progression at first visit was 6.3 months. The mean follow‐up of their …