Table 1 Patient characteristics at baseline*
Predictors | Complete cohort N = 30,751 | Patients with CVD event N = 904 | Patients with no CVD event N = 29,847 |
|---|---|---|---|
Age, mean (SD) | 68.8 (9.6) | 72.7 (9.3) | 68.6 (9.6) |
Age group, % | |||
 < 65 years | 23.4 | 14.6 | 23.6 |
 65–74 years | 50.9 | 42.8 | 51.1 |
 > 74 years | 25.8 | 42.6 | 25.3 |
Male, % | 18.2 | 23.0 | 18.1 |
Black race, % | 8.4 | 6.9 | 8.4 |
Comorbidities*, % | |||
 Diabetes | 39.8 | 47.7 | 39.5 |
 History of CVD | 37.1 | 55.0 | 36.5 |
 Hyperlipidemia | 75.4 | 81.5 | 75.2 |
 Hypertension | 78.7 | 88.9 | 78.4 |
 Obesity | 12.1 | 8.7 | 12.2 |
 Tobacco use (past or current) | 24.5 | 27.7 | 24.3 |
Medications, % | |||
 ACEI | 25.9 | 32.4 | 25.7 |
 ARB | 22.0 | 24.2 | 22.0 |
 Beta-blockers | 34.4 | 48.6 | 34.0 |
 Statins | 42.4 | 45.1 | 42.4 |
RA medications, % | |||
 Methotrexate | 59.8 | 58.4 | 59.9 |
 Other csDMARDs | 44.7 | 44.5 | 44.7 |
 TNFi biologics | 32.8 | 29.5 | 32.9 |
 Non-TNFi biologics | 14.8 | 15.8 | 14.8 |
 Abatacept | 9.9 | 11.3 | 9.9 |
 Rituximab | 3.8 | 4.1 | 3.8 |
 Tocilizimab | 1.9 | 1.4 | 2.0 |
 Tofacitinib | 1.7 | < 1.2 | 1.7 |
 Oral glucocorticoids | 57.5 | 62.7 | 57.4 |
 NSAIDs | 48.0 | 45.0 | 48.1 |
Biomarkers†, median [IQR] | |||
 CRP (ug/ml) | 1.5 [0.5, 2.5] | 1.9 [0.9, 2.9] | 1.5 [0.5, 2.5] |
 EGF (pg/ml) | 4.5 [3.7, 5.1] | 4.4 [3.7, 5.0] | 4.5 [3.7, 5.1] |
 IL-6 (pg/ml) | 2.6 [2.1, 3.3] | 2.8 [2.3, 3.6] | 2.6 [2.1, 3.3] |
 Leptin (ng/ml) | 3.2 [2.3, 3.9] | 3.0 [2.1, 3.7] | 3.2 [2.3, 3.9] |
 MMP-1 (ng/ml) | 1.9 [1.4, 2.4] | 1.9 [1.4, 2.4] | 1.9 [1.4, 2.4] |
 MMP-3 (ng/ml) | 3.3 [2.8, 3.8] | 3.5 [3.0, 4.1] | 3.3 [2.8, 3.8] |
 Resistin (ng/ml) | 2.1 [1.8, 2.4] | 2.1 [1.9, 2.5] | 2.1 [1.8, 2.4] |
 SAA (ug/ml) | 1.0 [0.3, 1.9] | 1.3 [0.5, 2.5] | 1.0 [0.3, 1.9] |
 TNF-R1 (ng/ml) | 0.6 [0.3, 0.8] | 0.8 [0.5, 1.1] | 0.6 [0.3, 0.8] |
 VCAM1 (ug/ml) | − 0.4 [− 0.5, − 0.2] | − 0.3 [− 0.5, − 0.1] | − 0.4 [− 0.5, − 0.2] |
 VEGF (pg/ml | 5.5 [5.1, 5.9] | 5.6 [5.2, 6.0] | 5.5 [5.1, 5.9] |
 YKL-40 (ng/ml) | 4.7 [4.2, 5.3] | 5.1 [4.5, 5.6] | 4.7 [4.2, 5.3] |
MBDA score, median [IQR] | 40.0 [32.0, 49.0] | 44.0 [36.0, 54.0] | 40.0 [32.0, 48.0] |