Fig. 1

Tapering schedule. The x-axis shows the time in months. The y-axis shows the bDMARD dose expressed as percentage of the defined daily dose [12]. At every study visit, it will be assessed if tapering should be continued. The following are several examples, where the stated colors correspond to the colors of the bars in the figure. Standard tapering scheme (both groups, blue bars): if no flares occur and there is no high predicted risk of flare, then the bDMARD is tapered from 100% and discontinued at 9 months until the end of the study. Example 1 (both groups, green bar): the patient tapered until 70%. At the 3-month visit, a flare occurs. The patient increases the dose to 100% and remains at this dose until the end of the study. Example 2 (intervention group, yellow bar): the patient tapered until 50%. At the 6-month visit, there is a high predicted risk of a flare. The patient does not taper further and remains at 50% until the end of the study. Example 3 (intervention group, red bar): the patient tapered until 0%. At the 12-month visit, there is a high predicted risk of a flare. The patient increases the dose to 33% and remains at this dose until the end of this study