Table 1.
Baseline characteristics for new statin users. Figures are numbers (percentage) of patients unless stated otherwise
| Pravastatin (n=38 470) | Atorvastatin (n=268 254) | Fluvastatin/lovastatin (n=11 923) | Rosuvastatin (n=76 774) | Simvastatin (n=75 829 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age (years at start of cohort drug): | |||||
| Mean (SD) | 73.04 (5.62) | 73.97 (6.34)* | 72.83 (5.49) | 73.24 (6.20) | 73.80 (6.06)* |
| Median (IQR) | 72 (68-77) | 73 (69-78)* | 72 (68-76) | 72 (68-77) | 73 (69-78)* |
| Men | 17 173 (44.6) | 123 607 (46.1) | 4 826 (40.5) | 35 346 (46.0) | 35 383 (46.7) |
| Median (IQR) year of cohort entry (fiscal) | 1999 (1998-2001) | 2004 (2001-06)* | 1999 (1997-2000)* | 2007 (2005-09)* | 2002 (1999-2003)* |
| Secondary prevention†: | |||||
| History of cardiac disease/procedures | 20 569 (53.5) | 143 329 (53.4) | 5616 (47.1)* | 30 183 (39.3)* | 43 559 (57.4) |
| Previous acute coronary syndrome | 12 243 (31.8) | 84 580 (31.5) | 3110 (26.1)* | 14 671 (19.1)* | 26 854 (35.4) |
| Chronic coronary artery disease | 18 399 (47.8) | 121 600 (45.3) | 4991 (41.9)* | 24 592 (32.0)* | 38 029 (50.2) |
| Stroke/transient ischemic attacks | 5296 (13.8) | 43 222 (16.1) | 1433 (12.0) | 9473 (12.3) | 12 212 (16.1) |
| Charlson score‡: | |||||
| 0 | 7057 (18.3) | 48 527 (18.1) | 2110 (17.7) | 13 677 (17.8)* | 13 715 (18.1) |
| 1 | 4181 (10.9) | 30 259 (11.3) | 1150 (9.6) | 5035 (6.6)* | 8995 (11.9) |
| ≥2 | 3918 (10.2) | 28 767 (10.7) | 1061 (8.9) | 5266 (6.9)* | 8526 (11.2) |
| No admissions to hospital | 23 314 (60.6) | 160 701 (59.9) | 7602 (63.8) | 52 796 (68.8)* | 44 593 (58.8) |
| Daily statin dose (any ceiling dose)§ | 9201 (23.9) | 11 051 (4.1)* | 1753 (14.7)* | 2056 (2.7)* | 1931 (2.5)* |
| Fifth of income distribution: | |||||
| 1 | 7807 (20.3) | 51 356 (19.1) | 2 510 (21.1) | 14 255 (18.6) | 14 933 (19.7) |
| 2 | 8 414 (21.9) | 56 596 (21.1) | 2 607 (21.9) | 16 246 (21.2) | 16 127 (21.3) |
| 3 | 7 891 (20.5) | 53 070 (19.8) | 2 518 (21.1) | 15 333 (20.0) | 15 336 (20.2) |
| 4 | 7 088 (18.4) | 51 411 (19.2) | 2 095 (17.6) | 15 339 (20.0) | 14 161 (18.7) |
| 5 | 7 155 (18.6) | 54 922 (20.5) | 2 143 (18.0) | 15 378 (20.0) | 15 042 (19.8) |
| Missing | 115 (0.3) | 899 (0.3) | 50 (0.4) | 223 (0.3) | 230 (0.3) |
*Standardized mean difference >0.1.
†Based on 5 years before cohort entry.
‡Based on 5 years of data from Canadian Institute for Health Information Discharge Abstract Database before cohort entry
§Defined as ≥80 mg/day (atorvastatin, simvastatin, fluvastatin) or 40 mg/day (lovastatin, pravastatin, rosuvastatin); daily doses: (quantity*strength)/days supplied.