Table 4.
Rates of Cardiovascular Events by Recent and Past Corticosteroid Use, Baltimore, Maryland, 1987–2010
| Subgroup of Corticosteroid Use | Observed No. of CVEs | Person-Years of Follow-up | Rate of Events per 1,000 Person-Years | Rate Ratio Adjusted for Agea | 95% CI | P Adjusted for Agea |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| None ever taken | 22 | 1,650 | 13.3 | 1.00 | Referent | |
| Currently taking | 88 | 4,845 | 18.2 | 1.58 | 0.99, 2.52 | 0.057 |
| Past (not current) use | 23 | 2,902 | 7.9 | 0.64 | 0.36, 1.16 | 0.14 |
| Current dose, mg/day | ||||||
| None | 46 | 4,640 | 9.9 | 1.00 | Referent | |
| 1–9 | 32 | 2,600 | 12.3 | 1.3 | 0.8, 2.0 | 0.31 |
| 10–19 | 31 | 1,538 | 20.2 | 2.4 | 1.5, 3.8 | 0.0002 |
| ≥20 | 25 | 707 | 35.4 | 5.1 | 3.1, 8.4 | <0.0001 |
| Cumulative past dose, mgb | ||||||
| None | 22 | 1,650 | 13.3 | 1.00 | Referent | |
| <3,650c | 14 | 1,414 | 9.9 | 0.8 | 0.4, 1.6 | 0.56 |
| 3,650–10,950d | 26 | 1,887 | 13.8 | 1.2 | 0.7, 2.2 | 0.49 |
| 10,950–36,499e | 41 | 3,195 | 12.8 | 1.1 | 0.6, 1.8 | 0.83 |
| ≥36,500f | 30 | 1,185 | 25.3 | 2.2 | 1.2, 3.7 | 0.0066 |
| Mean dose during cohort among those with high cumulative dose (≥36,500), mg/day | ||||||
| <10 | 11 | 455 | 24.2 | 1.0 | Referent | |
| ≥10 | 19 | 731 | 26.0 | 1.2 | 0.5, 2.5 | 0.72 |
| Current dose among those with low cumulative past dose (<10,950 mg), mg/day | ||||||
| None | 35 | 3,458 | 10.1 | 1.00 | Referent | |
| 1–9 | 11 | 878 | 12.5 | 1.3 | 0.7, 2.6 | 0.43 |
| 10–19 | 9 | 420 | 21.5 | 2.8 | 1.3, 5.8 | 0.0063 |
| ≥20 | 7 | 196 | 35.6 | 5.4 | 2.4, 12.3 | <0.0001 |
| Cumulative past dose among those with low (or no) current dose, mgb | ||||||
| None | 22 | 1,650 | 13.3 | 1.00 | Referent | |
| <3,650c | 12 | 1,242 | 9.7 | 0.8 | 0.4, 1.6 | 0.48 |
| 3,650–10,950d | 12 | 1,443 | 8.3 | 0.7 | 0.4, 1.4 | 0.35 |
| 10,950–36,499e | 19 | 2,198 | 8.6 | 0.7 | 0.4, 1.2 | 0.21 |
| ≥36,500f | 12 | 588 | 20.4 | 1.7 | 0.8, 3.5 | 0.14 |
Abbreviations: CI, confidence interval; CVE, cardiovascular event.
a Age refers to the age of the patient at each month of follow-up.
b This includes information on corticosteroid exposure before cohort participation.
c A cumulative dose of 3,650 mg equals 10 mg/day for 1 year or an equivalent cumulative exposure.
d One to 3 years with 10 mg/day or an equivalent cumulative exposure.
e Three to 10 years with 10 mg/day or an equivalent cumulative exposure.
f Ten or more years with 10 mg/day or an equivalent cumulative exposure.