Table 1.
Baseline characteristics of telmisartan and other angiotensin receptor blockers users
| Telmisartan (n = 3,438) | Other ARBs (n = 58,671) | |
|---|---|---|
| Age (years), mean (SD) | 62.5 (12.7) | 62.5 (12.7) |
| Male, n (%) | 1,746 (50.8) | 29,514 (50.3) |
| Follow-up time (years), mean (SD) | 5 (2.2) | 4.9 (2.2) |
| Time at risk (years), mean (SD) | 4 (2.2) | 3.9 (2.2) |
| Year of cohort entry, n (%) | ||
| 2000 | 106 (3.1) | 2,140 (3.6) |
| 2001 | 220 (6.4) | 3,101 (5.3) |
| 2002 | 299 (8.7) | 5,474 (9.3) |
| 2003 | 385 (11.2) | 6,133 (10.5) |
| 2004 | 518 (15.1) | 8,319 (14.2) |
| 2005 | 523 (15.2) | 8,296 (14.1) |
| 2006 | 634 (18.4) | 8,935 (15.2) |
| 2007 | 441 (12.8) | 8,765 (14.9) |
| 2008 | 312 (9.1) | 7,508 (12.8) |
| Excessive alcohol use, n (%) | 125 (3.6) | 2,169 (3.7) |
| Body mass index, n (%) | ||
| <30 | 1,399 (40.7) | 22,931 (39.1) |
| ≥30 | 787 (22.9) | 13,245 (22.6) |
| Unknown | 1,252 (36.4) | 22,495 (38.3) |
| Smoking status, n (%) | ||
| Ever | 1,655 (48.1) | 28,965 (49.4) |
| Never | 1,620 (47.1) | 27,110 (46.2) |
| Unknown | 125 (3.6) | 2,169 (3.7) |
| Aspirin, n (%) | 908 (26.4) | 18,296 (31.2) |
| NSAIDs, n (%) | 2,123 (61.8) | 38,158 (65.0) |
| Statins, n (%) | 1,084 (31.5) | 21,157 (36.1) |
| Drugs used in diabetes, n (%) | ||
| Metformin | 270 (7.9) | 5,736 (9.8) |
| Sulfonylureas | 182 (5.3) | 4,163 (7.1) |
| Insulins | 88 (2.6) | 2,297 (3.9) |
| Other oral antidiabetic drugs | 80 (2.3) | 1,673 (2.9) |
| History of AHT, n (%) | 2,758 (80.2) | 50,026 (85.3) |
| Duration of previous AHT, years (SD) | 2.7 (2.8) | 2.6 (2.7) |
| Drugs used in hypertension, n (%) | ||
| ACEIs | 1,830 (53.2) | 37,593 (64.1) |
| Beta-blockers | 1,204 (35) | 22,070 (37.6) |
| Diuretics | 1,877 (54.6) | 31,079 (53) |
| CCBs | 1,108 (32.2) | 20,079 (34.2) |
| Other antihypertensives | 338 (9.8) | 5,502 (9.4) |
| Colorectal cancer-related variables, n (%) | ||
| Inflammatory bowel disease | 37 (1.1) | 709 (1.2) |
| History of polyps | 30 (0.9) | 666 (1.1) |
| Cholecystectomy | 126 (3.7) | 2,358 (4) |
| Prostate cancer-related variablesa, n (%) | ||
| Benign prostatic hyperplasia | 46 (2.6) | 938 (3.2) |
| Number of PSA test in the 2 years prior to cohort entry | ||
| None | 1,478 (84.7) | 25,576 (86.7) |
| One | 185 (10.6) | 2,969 (10.1) |
| Two | 56 (3.2) | 700 (2.4) |
| Three or more | 27 (1.5) | 269 (0.9) |
| 5-Alpha reductase inhibitors | 36 (1.0) | 691 (1.2) |
| Breast cancer-related variablesb, n (%) | ||
| Oophorectomy | 36 (2.1) | 793 (2.7) |
| Oral contraceptive | 189 (11.2) | 3,413 (11.7) |
| Hormone replacement therapy | 470 (27.8) | 8,344 (28.6) |
Abbreviations: ACEI, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor; AHT, antihypertensive treatment; ARB, angiotensin receptor blocker; CCB, calcium channel blocker; NSAIDs, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug; PSA, prostate-specific antigen.
aPercentages calculated among males.
bPercentages calculated among females.