Appendix 4.
Baseline characteristics for the propensity-matched cohort
| Variable | Value | Control (n = 1061) | Statin (n = 1061) | Overall (n = 2122) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Income quintile 1 (%) | 231 (21.8) | 242 (22.8) | 473 (22.3) | |
| Income quintile 2 (%) | 227 (21.4) | 225 (21.2) | 452 (21.3) | |
| Income quintile 3 (%) | 218 (20.5) | 222 (20.9) | 440 (20.7) | |
| Income quintile 4 (%) | 197 (18.6) | 186 (17.5) | 383 (18.0) | |
| Income quintile 5 (%) | 188 (17.7) | 186 (17.5) | 374 (17.6) | |
| Female (%) | 494 (46.6) | 494 (46.6) | 988 (46.6) | |
| Rural location (%) | 158 (14.9) | 173 (16.3) | 331 (15.6) | |
| Age | Mean ± SD | 74.07 ± 5.36 | 74.09 ± 5.36 | 74.08 ± 5.36 |
| Median (IQR) | 73 (70–78) | 73 (70–78) | 73 (70–78) | |
| Family doctor ambulatory visits in the past year, n | Mean ± SD | 12.61 ± 8.74 | 12.88 ± 8.94 | 12.74 ± 8.84 |
| Median (IQR) | 11 (7–17) | 11 (7–17) | 11 (7–17) | |
| Cardiologist ambulatory visits in the past year, n | Mean ± SD | 2.03 ± 2.70 | 2.03 ± 2.31 | 2.03 ± 2.51 |
| Median (IQR) | 1 (0–3) | 1 (0–3) | 1 (0–3) | |
| Endocrinologist ambulatory visits in the past year, n | Mean ± SD | 0.27 ± 1.03 | 0.25 ± 0.96 | 0.26 ± 1.00 |
| Median (IQR) | 0 (0–0) | 0 (0–0) | 0 (0–0) | |
| Nephrologist ambulatory visits in the past year, n | Mean ± SD | 1.03 ± 2.20 | 0.94 ± 1.94 | 0.99 ± 2.08 |
| Median (IQR) | 0 (0–1) | 0 (0–1) | 0 (0–1) | |
| General internist ambulatory visits in the past year, n | Mean ± SD | 1.55 ± 2.41 | 1.44 ± 3.09 | 1.49 ± 2.77 |
| Median (IQR) | 1 (0–2) | 0 (0–2) | 1 (0–2) | |
| Vascular surgeon ambulatory visits in the past year, n | Mean ± SD | 1.70 ± 2.26 | 1.69 ± 2.06 | 1.70 ± 2.16 |
| Median (IQR) | 1 (0–3) | 1 (0–3) | 1 (0–3) | |
| Number of cholesterol laboratory tests in the past year | Mean ± SD | 0.95 ± 1.07 | 0.96 ± 1.00 | 0.96 ± 1.04 |
| Median (IQR) | 1 (0–1) | 1 (0–1) | 1 (0–1) | |
| Number of creatinine laboratory tests in the past year | Mean ± SD | 3.08 ± 3.24 | 3.04 ± 3.54 | 3.06 ± 3.39 |
| Median (IQR) | 2 (1–4) | 2 (1–4) | 2 (1–4) | |
| Number of hospitalizations in past 3 years | Mean ± SD | 2.34 ± 1.98 | 2.24 ± 2.02 | 2.29 ± 2.00 |
| Median (IQR) | 2 (1–3) | 2 (1–3) | 2 (1–3) | |
| Number of distinct drugs in the past 6 months | Mean ± SD | 11.66 ± 6.20 | 11.70 ± 5.45 | 11.68 ± 5.83 |
| Median (IQR) | 11 (7–15) | 11 (8–15) | 11 (8–15) | |
| Number of CK tests in the past year | Mean ± SD | 0.21 ± 0.63 | 0.25 ± 0.56 | 0.23 ± 0.60 |
| Median (IQR) | 0 (0–0) | 0 (0–0) | 0 (0–0) | |
| Number of ALT/AST tests in the past year | Mean ± SD | 1.06 ± 1.45 | 1.10 ± 1.41 | 1.08 ± 1.43 |
| Median (IQR) | 1 (0–1) | 1 (0–2) | 1 (0–2) | |
| Diabetes mellitus (%) | 288 (27.1) | 306 (28.8) | 594 (28.0) | |
| Hypertension (%) | 955 (90.0) | 951 (89.6) | 1906 (89.8) | |
| Cerebrovascular disease (%) | 340 (32.0) | 331 (31.2) | 671 (31.6) | |
| Peripheral arterial disease (%) | 487 (45.9) | 487 (45.9) | 974 (45.9) | |
| Coronary artery disease (%) | 613 (57.8) | 618 (58.2) | 1231 (58.0) | |
| Heart failure (%) | 488 (46.0) | 495 (46.7) | 983 (46.3) | |
| Aortic aneurysm (%) | 407 (38.4) | 392 (36.9) | 799 (37.7) | |
| Chronic kidney disease (%) | 635 (59.8) | 635 (59.8) | 1270 (59.8) | |
| Atrial fibrillation/flutter (%) | 160 (15.1) | 169 (15.9) | 329 (15.5) | |
| Other arrhythmias (%) | 292 (27.5) | 280 (26.4) | 572 (27.0) | |
| Chronic liver disease (%) | 22 (2.1) | 30 (2.8) | 52 (2.5) | |
| Chronic lung disease (%) | 441 (41.6) | 433 (40.8) | 874 (41.2) | |
| Dementia (%) | 47 (4.4) | 57 (5.4) | 104 (4.9) | |
| Peptic ulcer disease (%) | 177 (16.7) | 181 (17.1) | 358 (16.9) | |
| Systemic malignancy (%) | 40 (3.8) | 44 (4.1) | 84 (4.0) | |
| Prior venous thrombosis/thromboembolism (%) | 111 (10.5) | 121 (11.4) | 232 (10.9) | |
| CADG—‘acute minor’ (%) | 999 (94.2) | 1007 (94.9) | 2006 (94.5) | |
| CADG—‘acute major’ (%) | 1045 (98.5) | 1044 (98.4) | 2089 (98.4) | |
| CADG—‘likely to recur’ (%) | 968 (91.2) | 966 (91.0) | 1934 (91.1) | |
| CADG—‘asthma’ (%) | 115 (10.8) | 118 (11.1) | 233 (11.0) | |
| CADG—‘chronic medical unstable’ (%) | 1060 (99.9) | 1060 (99.9) | 2120 (99.9) | |
| CADG—‘chronic medical stable’ (%) | 1042 (98.2) | 1046 (98.6) | 2088 (98.4) | |
| CADG—‘chronic specialty stable’ (%) | 144 (13.6) | 129 (12.2) | 273 (12.9) | |
| CADG—‘eye dental’ (%) | 395 (37.2) | 401 (37.8) | 796 (37.5) | |
| CADG—‘chronic specialty unstable’ (%) | 296 (27.9) | 305 (28.7) | 601 (28.3) | |
| CADG—‘psychosocial’ (%) | 547 (51.6) | 557 (52.5) | 1104 (52.0) | |
| CADG—‘prevention, administration’ (%) | 718 (67.7) | 726 (68.4) | 1444 (68.0) | |
| Echocardiography (%) | 384 (36.2) | 409 (38.5) | 793 (37.4) | |
| Carotid ultrasound (%) | 269 (25.4) | 251 (23.7) | 520 (24.5) | |
| Coronary angiography (%) | 130 (12.3) | 135 (12.7) | 265 (12.5) | |
| Holter monitoring (%) | 107 (10.1) | 104 (9.8) | 211 (9.9) | |
| Stress testing (%) | 320 (30.2) | 312 (29.4) | 632 (29.8) | |
| Bone density testing (%) | 45 (4.2) | 52 (4.9) | 97 (4.6) | |
| Renal artery ultrasound (%) | 440 (41.5) | 441 (41.6) | 881 (41.5) | |
| Renal MRA (%) | 69 (6.5) | 73 (6.9) | 142 (6.7) | |
| Renal CTA (%) | 270 (25.4) | 260 (24.5) | 530 (25.0) | |
| Plain renal angiogram (%) | 276 (26.0) | 278 (26.2) | 554 (26.1) | |
| Captopril nephrography (%) | 178 (16.8) | 161 (15.2) | 339 (16.0) | |
| Renin immunoassay (%) | 7 (0.7) | 6 (0.6) | 13 (0.6) | |
| Aldosterone immunoassay (%) | 10 (0.9) | 8 (0.8) | 18 (0.8) | |
| Calcium channel blocker (%) | 616 (58.1) | 618 (58.2) | 1234 (58.2) | |
| Thiazide diuretic (%) | 333 (31.4) | 336 (31.7) | 669 (31.5) | |
| Alpha-blocker (%) | 107 (10.1) | 116 (10.9) | 223 (10.5) | |
| Beta-blocker (%) | 576 (54.3) | 558 (52.6) | 1134 (53.4) | |
| Vasodilator (%) | 94 (8.9) | 82 (7.7) | 176 (8.3) | |
| Oral anticoagulant (%) | 155 (14.6) | 148 (13.9) | 303 (14.3) | |
| Loop diuretic (%) | 520 (49.0) | 537 (50.6) | 1057 (49.8) | |
| Antiplatelet (%) | 383 (36.1) | 389 (36.7) | 772 (36.4) | |
| Anti-arrhythmic (%) | 169 (15.9) | 174 (16.4) | 343 (16.2) | |
| Potassium-sparing diuretic (%) | 105 (9.9) | 104 (9.8) | 209 (9.8) | |
| NSAID (%) | 119 (11.2) | 120 (11.3) | 239 (11.3) | |
| ACE-inhibitor (%) | 499 (47.0) | 515 (48.5) | 1014 (47.8) | |
| ARB (%) | 123 (11.6) | 114 (10.7) | 237 (11.2) |
ACE, angiotensin converting enzyme; ARB, angiotensin receptor blocker; CADG, chronic ambulatory disease group; CK, creatine kinase; CTA, computed tomographic angiography; IQR, interquartile range; MRA, magnetic resonance angiography; NSAID, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug.