Table 1. Baseline characteristics of the study population.
| Baseline characteristics | Cases | Controls | p-value |
| N = 1310 | N = 5793 | ||
| Mean age (years, standard deviation) | 67.1 (12.2) | 67.0 (12.2) | n/a |
| Age group in years | |||
| <65 | 546 (42%) | 2421 (42%) | |
| ≥65 | 764 (58%) | 3372 (58%) | n/a |
| Male sex | 1015 (78%) | 4502 (78%) | n/a |
| Comorbidities | |||
| High cardiovascular risk-profile4 | 929 (71%) | 3049 (53%) | <0.001 |
| Diabetes mellitus5 | 232 (18%) | 621 (11%) | <0.001 |
| Current use of concomitant medication1 | |||
| Antiarrhythmic drugs6 | 60 (4%) | 182 (3%) | 0.009 |
| β-adrenoreceptor blockers | 463 (35%) | 1134 (20%) | <0.001 |
| Non-antiarrhythmic QT prolonging drugs class 1 | 21 (2%) | 64 (1%) | 0.134 |
| Non-antiarrhythmic QT prolonging drugs class 2 | 35 (3%) | 151 (3%) | 0.891 |
| Obstructive pulmonary disease | 190 (15%) | 622 (11%) | <0.001 |
| Current β-adrenoreceptor blocker-use in OPD patients | 70 (37%) | 120 (19%) | <0.001 |
| Current use of inhaled respiratory drugs1 | |||
| Inhaled short-acting β2-adrenoreceptor agonists | 62 (5%) | 51 (0.9%) | <0.001 |
| Inhaled long-acting β2-adrenoreceptor agonists | 78 (6%) | 127 (2%) | <0.001 |
| Inhaled anticholinergics | 78 (6%) | 102 (2%) | <0.001 |
| Inhaled corticosteroids | 97 (7%) | 205 (4%) | <0.001 |
| Other drugs used to treat OPD | |||
| Systemic β2-adrenoreceptor agonists2 | 3 (0.2%) | 4 (0.1%) | 0.096 |
| Xanthines2 | 10 (0.8%) | 31 (0.5%) | 0.325 |
| Chronically used systemic corticosteroids3 | 18 (1.4%) | 93 (1.6%) | 0.542 |
Data are number (%) unless otherwise indicated. OPD: obstructive pulmonary disease.
1
Drug use at index date.
2
Drug use at index date, or within six months prior to index date.
3
Use of systemic corticosteroids with a duration of 90 days or more.
4
Use of any of the following drugs: β-adrenoreceptor blockers, calcium channel antagonists, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, diuretics, angiotensin-II receptor blockers, nitrates, platelet aggregation inhibitors, and statins, within six months prior to index date.
5
Use of anti-diabetics within six months prior to index date.
6
Class I and III antiarrhythmic drugs and non-antiarrhythmic drugs with (possible) risk of QT prolongation (Table S1).