Table 1.
Baseline characteristics of study participants
| Crude | PSS-weighted | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JAK inhibitor | TNF inhibitor | JAK inhibitor | TNF inhibitor | SD | |
| n = 2 967 | n = 13 152 | n = 2 963 | n = 5 169 | ||
| Index age, years | 55.9 ± 12.7 | 53.8 ± 13.5 | 55.8 ± 12.7 | 55.6 ± 13.0 | 0.016 |
| Gender (%, male) | 16.3 | 19.1 | 16.3 | 16.7 | 0.012 |
| Index drug, % | |||||
| Infliximab | - | 16.0 | - | 14.6 | |
| Adalimumab | - | 35.4 | - | 16.4 | |
| Golimumab | - | 15.2 | - | 33.3 | |
| Etanercept | - | 33.4 | - | 35.8 | |
| Tofacitinib | 78.8 | - | 78.8 | - | |
| Baricitinib | 21.2 | - | 21.2 | - | |
| Index year, % | |||||
| 2010 | 9.0 | ||||
| 2011 | 11.3 | ||||
| 2012 | 13.7 | ||||
| 2013 | 12.8 | ||||
| 2014 | 13.5 | ||||
| 2015 | 3.4 | 10.0 | 3.4 | 3.2 | |
| 2016 | 9.2 | 9.2 | 9.2 | 6.9 | |
| 2017 | 16.6 | 8.6 | 16.6 | 17 | |
| 2018 | 29.5 | 6.9 | 29.5 | 33 | |
| 2019 | 41.2 | 5.1 | 41.2 | 39.8 | |
| RA medications | |||||
| Any biologics use, % | 40.2 | 17.3 | 40.2 | 40.2 | |
| Non-index TNFi, % | 25.5 | 15.3 | 25.5 | 26.6 | 0.026 |
| Non-TNFi biologics, % | |||||
| Abatacept | 7.2 | 1.2 | 7.2 | 6.7 | 0.019 |
| Tocilizumab | 11.3 | 1.4 | 11.3 | 10.8 | 0.016 |
| Rituximab | 0.9 | 0.2 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 0.038 |
| Number of biologics | 0.5 ± 0.6 | 0.2 ± 0.4 | 0.5 ± 0.6 | 0.5 ± 0.6 | 0.002 |
| Methotrexate, % | 87.1 | 88.9 | 87.1 | 87.1 | 0.001 |
| Leflunomide, % | 39.0 | 45.3 | 39.0 | 39.1 | 0.001 |
| Hydroxychloroquine, % | 33.8 | 49.2 | 33.8 | 34.1 | 0.007 |
| Sulfasalazine, % | 23.2 | 35.3 | 23.2 | 24.3 | 0.024 |
| Tacrolimus, % | 28.2 | 22.0 | 28.1 | 27.0 | 0.025 |
| Cyclosporine, % | 0.6 | 2.5 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 0.028 |
| Mizoribine, % | 1.2 | 2.7 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 0.002 |
| Azathioprine, % | 0.5 | 1.2 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.016 |
| Number of DMARDs used | 2.2 ± 1.0 | 2.5 ± 1.1 | 2.2 ± 1.0 | 2.2 ± 1.0 | 0.005 |
| NSAID, % | 60.5 | 73.0 | 60.5 | 60.8 | 0.007 |
| Cox-2 inhibitors, % | 65.7 | 55.0 | 65.7 | 65.4 | 0.005 |
| Opioids, % | 13.3 | 25.0 | 13.3 | 12.2 | 0.031 |
| Steroid use, % | 95.6 | 96.5 | 95.6 | 95.5 | 0.006 |
| Cumulative steroid dosea | 1437 ± 1174 | 1641 ± 1276 | 1432 ± 1171 | 1451 ± 1191 | 0.015 |
| Recent steroid useb, % | 84.5 | 87.0 | 84.5 | 84.8 | 0.007 |
| Recent cumulative steroid dosea,b | 314 ± 329 | 395 ± 409 | 312 ± 310 | 321 ± 335 | 0.028 |
| Comorbidities | |||||
| Angina, % | 6.6 | 6.0 | 6.6 | 6.2 | 0.016 |
| Myocardial infarction, % | 1.4 | 1.3 | 1.4 | 1.5 | 0.013 |
| Stroke, % | 3.9 | 4.0 | 3.8 | 3.7 | 0.005 |
| Atrial fibrillation, % | 1.3 | 0.9 | 1.3 | 1.1 | 0.02 |
| Heart failure, % | 5.2 | 2.9 | 5.2 | 4.9 | 0.014 |
| Hypertension, % | 34.9 | 35.3 | 34.9 | 34.3 | 0.013 |
| Venous thromboembolism, % | 2.8 | 1.7 | 2.8 | 2.4 | 0.02 |
| Peripheral vascular disease, % | 9.9 | 9.1 | 9.9 | 9.7 | 0.005 |
| Dyslipidemia, % | 63.7 | 51.6 | 63.7 | 63.8 | 0.001 |
| Liver disease, % | 42.0 | 39.8 | 42.0 | 43.0 | 0.022 |
| Diabetes, % | 29.3 | 24.5 | 29.2 | 29.1 | 0.004 |
| Chronic kidney disease, % | 3.3 | 2.6 | 3.3 | 3.3 | 0.001 |
| Thyroid disease, % | 31.8 | 29.6 | 31.7 | 31.6 | 0.002 |
| COPD, % | 28.5 | 26.8 | 28.5 | 27.1 | 0.03 |
| Asthma, % | 15.9 | 14.9 | 15.9 | 14.9 | 0.03 |
| Interstitial lung disease, % | 5.8 | 3.6 | 5.8 | 4.7 | 0.049 |
| Osteoporosis, % | 54.6 | 49.6 | 54.6 | 52.9 | 0.034 |
| Malignancy, % | 8.0 | 6.8 | 7.9 | 8.5 | 0.02 |
| Comorbidity index | 2.6 ± 1.7 | 2.5 ± 1.6 | 2.6 ± 1.7 | 2.6 ± 1.7 | 0.012 |
| Other medications | |||||
| ACE inhibitor or ARB, % | 22.7 | 22.1 | 22.7 | 22.9 | 0.004 |
| Beta blocker, % | 11.8 | 15.6 | 11.8 | 11.1 | 0.021 |
| Calcium channel blocker, % | 23.3 | 21.9 | 23.3 | 23.4 | 0.002 |
| Diuretic, % | 14.9 | 23.8 | 14.9 | 14.8 | 0.004 |
| Loop diuretic, % | 5.4 | 6.8 | 5.4 | 5.4 | 0.002 |
| Nitrate, % | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 2.4 | 0.041 |
| Insulin, % | 3.1 | 4.6 | 3.1 | 3.5 | 0.022 |
| Oral hypoglycemic agent, % | 9.9 | 10.3 | 9.9 | 10.2 | 0.011 |
| Anticoagulant, % | 3.0 | 3.0 | 2.9 | 2.8 | 0.011 |
| Antiplatelet, % | 8.0 | 9.0 | 8.0 | 7.4 | 0.021 |
| Statin, % | 26.2 | 20.5 | 26.2 | 25.9 | 0.008 |
| Non-statin lipid lowering agent, % | 3.9 | 3.4 | 3.9 | 3.8 | 0.005 |
| Proton pump inhibitor, % | 55.7 | 50.8 | 55.7 | 56.0 | 0.006 |
| H2 blocker, % | 50.1 | 63.0 | 50.1 | 49.4 | 0.015 |
| Bisphosphonate, % | 17.5 | 17.3 | 17.4 | 17.5 | 0.002 |
| SERM, % | 4.9 | 2.9 | 4.9 | 4.4 | 0.02 |
| Antidepressant, % | 14.9 | 16.0 | 14.9 | 14.9 | < .001 |
| Anti-microbials | |||||
| Use of antibiotics | 71.8 | 73.4 | 71.8 | 71.0 | 0.017 |
| Use of antivirals | 10.8 | 8.8 | 10.8 | 11.2 | 0.015 |
| Use of anti-zoster drugs | 7.9 | 6.9 | 7.8 | 7.7 | 0.004 |
| Use of antifungals, % | 12.1 | 14.2 | 12.1 | 12.6 | 0.016 |
| Healthcare use intensities | |||||
| Hospitalization, % | 30.9 | 35.8 | 30.9 | 30.6 | 0.006 |
| Number of hospitalizations | 0.7 ± 1.6 | 0.8 ± 1.5 | 0.7 ± 1.6 | 0.7 ± 1.4 | 0.016 |
| ER visit, % | 15.1 | 18.3 | 15.1 | 14.7 | 0.011 |
| Number of ER visits | 0.3 ± 1.0 | 0.3 ± 2.8 | 0.2 ± 1.0 | 0.2 ± 1.0 | 0.01 |
| Number of outpatient clinic visits | 34.8 ± 27.6 | 35.9 ± 31.4 | 34.8 ± 27.6 | 34.6 ± 29.8 | 0.008 |
| ECG ordered, % | 37.9 | 44.8 | 37.8 | 37.9 | 0.002 |
| HbA1c ordered, % | 12.0 | 20.2 | 11.9 | 12.8 | 0.025 |
| Serum creatinine test ordered, % | 53.8 | 92.0 | 53.8 | 54.7 | 0.018 |
| Lipid/cholesterol test ordered, % | 50.6 | 86.9 | 50.6 | 51.3 | 0.014 |
Data are presented as % for binary variables and mean ± standard deviation for continuous variables
ACE Angiotensin-converting-enzyme, ARB Angiotensin receptor blocker, COPD Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, DMARD Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug, ECG Electrocardiogram, ER Emergency room, NSAID Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, PSS Propensity score fine stratification, RA Rheumatoid arthritis, SD Standardized difference, SERM Selective estrogen receptor modulator, TNFi TNF inhibitors
aPrenisone equivalent dose
bRecent = within 3 months from the index date