Baseline characteristics according to hospitalisation for major cardiovascular events
| All patients | Never CVE | CVE | Test statistic | |
| n patients (% total) | 5079 | 4881 (96%) | 198 (4%) | – |
| Baseline smoking status, n (%) | ||||
| Never | 2048 (40%) | 1988 (41%) | 60 (30%) | – |
| Former | 1749 (34%) | 1682 (34%) | 67 (34%) | – |
| Current | 1282 (25%) | 1211 (25%) | 71 (36%) | Χ2 (2)=14.4, p=0.001 |
| % female | 68.7 | 69.3 | 54.6 | Χ2 (1)=19.2, p=0.000 |
| Median age (IQR) | 61.0 (50.9, 70.9) | 60.6 (50.4, 70.6) | 70.2 (63.5, 77.2) | KW (1)=101, p=0.0001 |
| Median BMI (IQR)* | 26.9 (23.8, 30.9) | 26.8 (23.8, 30.9) | 27.6 (24.8, 30.6) | KW (1)=1, p=0.26 |
| Townsend score quintile† | ||||
| 1 | 23.5 | 23.5 | 22.7 | – |
| 2 | 24.1 | 24.3 | 20.7 | – |
| 3 | 21.5 | 21.4 | 22.2 | – |
| 4 | 18.4 | 18.3 | 20.2 | – |
| 5 | 12.6 | 12.5 | 14.1 | Χ2 (4)=1.9, p=0.754 |
| Type 2 diabetes | 10.7 | 10.5 | 15.2 | Χ2 (1)=4.4, p=0.036 |
| Immunosuppressant DMARDs | 10.5 | 10.7 | 7.6 | Χ2 (1)=1.9, p=0.167 |
| Oral glucocorticoids | 16.5 | 16.3 | 22.2 | Χ2 (1)=4.9, p=0.027 |
| NSAIDs | 47.0 | 46.7 | 55.6 | Χ2 (1)=6.0, p=0.014 |
| CVD medication | 25.4 | 24.6 | 43.9 | Χ2 (1)=37.6, p=0.000 |
| Aspirin/antiplatelet drugs | 7.0 | 6.7 | 15.7 | Χ2 (1)=23.6, p=0.000 |
| Lipid-lowering agents | 10.6 | 10.2 | 19.2 | Χ2 (1)=16.1, p=0.000 |
Figures are percentages, unless otherwise stated.
*33% missing BMI.
†0.5% missing SES.
Never CVE, no hospitalised CVE during follow-up; CVE, at least one hospitalised CVE during follow-up; CVE, cardiovascular event; n, number; BMI, body mass index; DMARDs, disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs; NSAIDs, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; CVD, cardiovascular disease; Χ2,chi-squared test; KW, Kruskal-Wallis test; SES, socioeconomic status.