Table 1 Demographic and clinical features of the RA and control patients admitted to participating Victorian hospitals with acute MI between 1995 and 2005
| Â | RA (n= 90) | Controls (n= 90) |
|---|---|---|
Female, n (%) | 55 (61) | 55 (61) |
Age in years, mean (SD) | 71 (10) | 71 (10) |
RA disease duration in years, mean (SD) | 20 (13) | - |
Seropositive, n (%)a | 35 (78) | - |
No. of DMARDs, mean (SD) | 1.4 (1.1) | - |
Taking NSAID at time of MI, n (%) | 21 (23) | 6 (7)b |
Preexisting comorbidities: | Â | Â |
   Ischemic heart disease, n (%) | 31 (34) | 33 (37) |
   Prior MI, n (%) | 10 (11) | 11 (12) |
   Cerebrovascular disease, n (%) | 8 (9) | 9 (10) |
   Peripheral vascular disease, n (%) | 19 (21) | 5 (6)b |
   IDDM, n (%) | 3 (3) | 1 (1) |
   NIDDM, n (%) | 22 (24) | 27 (30) |
   Hypertension, n (%) | 52 (58) | 56 (62) |
   Hypercholesterolemia, n (%) | 22 (24) | 38 (42)b |
   Current smoker, n (%) | 14 (15) | 16 (18) |
   Previous smoker, n (%) | 41 (46) | 27 (30) |
   Congestive cardiac failure, n (%) | 15 (17) | 11 (12) |
   Chronic lung disease, n (%) | 28 (31) | 16 (18) |
   Chronic renal impairment, n (%) | 15 (17) | 8 (9) |