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Table 4 Multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression for factors predicting cardiovascular events in patients with inflammatory arthritis (n = 4140)

From: Biologics and cardiovascular events in inflammatory arthritis: a prospective national cohort study

Factor

HR

95% CI

p value

Increased age (years)

1.05

1.05–1.06

< 0.0001

Sex (males vs females)

1.72

1.57–1.88

< 0.0001

Biologic use (referent: biologic naïve)

0.006

 Current TNF biologics

0.85

0.76–0.95

 

 Current other biologics

0.81

0.70–0.95

 

 Stopped taking biologics

0.96

0.83–1.11

 

Diagnosis (referent: rheumatoid arthritis)

0.18

 Ankylosing spondylitis

1.14

0.96–1.36

 

 Psoriatic arthritis

0.92

0.77–1.10

 

Methotrexate treatment (referent: never)

0.0001

 Currently taking methotrexate

1.08

0.90–1.29

 

 Stopped taking methotrexate

1.28

1.07–1.53

 

Prednisone/prednisolone treatment (referent: never)

0.02

 Currently taking prednisone/prednisolone

0.96

0.85–1.08

 

 Stopped taking prednisone/prednisolone

0.86

0.76–0.97

 

NSAID treatment vs not currently taking

1.22

1.13–1.32

< 0.0001

Smoking regularly ever

1.17

1.07–1.27

0.0003

Alcohol use (referent: never)

< 0.0001

 Sometimes

0.77

0.70–0.84

 

 Everyday

0.77

0.68–0.87

 

Hypertension (referent: no)

< 0.0001

 Positive history for hypertension

1.27

1.16–1.39

 

Hyperlipidaemia (referent: no)

< 0.0001

 Positive history for hyperlipidaemia

1.65

1.52–1.80

 

Diabetes (referent: no)

< 0.0001

 Positive history for diabetes

1.28

1.16–1.42

 

Higher HAQa

1.48

1.40–1.57

< 0.0001

  1. HR hazard ratio, CI confidence interval, HAQ Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Score, NSAID non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, TNF tumour necrosis factor
  2. aRange 0–3, where higher scores indicate greater functional impairment