Table 1.
Baseline characteristics according to background variables at index datea for a population-based cohort in Denmark of 519,894 statin users and their 1:5 matched reference group, 2004–2013.
| No statin use (%) | Statin use (%) | |
|---|---|---|
| Total (%) | 83.3% | 16.7% |
| Demographic factors | ||
| Age | ||
| 50–60 years | 33.3% | 33.3% |
| 61–70 years | 38.2% | 38.2% |
| 71–80 years | 21.7% | 21.7% |
| 81–100 years | 6.8% | 6.8% |
| Sex | ||
| Women | 51.7% | 51.7% |
| Men | 48.3% | 48.3% |
| Calendar period | ||
| 2004–2005 | 19.1% | 19.1% |
| 2006–2007 | 23.3% | 23.3% |
| 2008–2009 | 22.5% | 22.5% |
| 2010–2011 | 19.0% | 19.0% |
| 2012–2013 | 16.1% | 16.1% |
| Socioeconomic factors | ||
| Cohabitation status | ||
| Living with a partner | 68.5% | 68.0% |
| Living alone | 31.5% | 32.0% |
| Education | ||
| > 15 years | 13.6% | 13.9% |
| 10–15 years | 43.0% | 42.8% |
| > 10 years | 41.1% | 40.8% |
| Unknown | 2.3% | 2.5% |
| Income | ||
| High | 28.2% | 28.5% |
| Medium | 58.3% | 58.0% |
| Low | 13.5% | 13.5% |
| Comorbidity | ||
| Hypertension (hospital diagnoses) | 20.1% | 19.7% |
| Atrial fibrillation | 4.5% | 5.0% |
| Ischaemic heart disease | 12.9% | 13.3% |
| Congestive heart failure | 2.1% | 2.9% |
| Peripheral artery occlusive diseases | 4.6% | 5.7% |
| Cerebrovascular disease | 1.1% | 1.3% |
| Diabetes mellitus | 17.4% | 17.0% |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease | 7.1% | 7.5% |
| Chronic liver disease | 0.7% | 0.7% |
| Coagulation defects | 0.4% | 0.5% |
| Anaemias | 1.8% | 1.9% |
| Cancer | 4.4% | 4.5% |
| Epilepsy | 0.6% | 0.7% |
| Parkinson's disease | 0.2% | 0.2% |
| Mood, stress or anxiety-related disorder | 0.8% | 1.0% |
| Alcohol problems | 0.7% | 0.8% |
| Substance abuse | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| Bipolar affective disorder | 0.3% | 0.4% |
| Schizophrenia/schizoaffective disorder | 0.4% | 0.3% |
| Dementia | 0.6% | 0.6% |
| Medications | ||
| Antithrombotic agents | ||
| Antiplatelet agents | ||
| No use | 86.8% | 63.6% |
| Newly initiated use | 4.2% | 25.7% |
| Long-term use | 9.0% | 10.7% |
| Anticoagulant agents | ||
| No use | 96.4% | 95.2% |
| Newly initiated use | 0.9% | 2.0% |
| Long-term use | 2.7% | 2.8% |
| Antihypertensive agents | ||
| No use | 58.3% | 33.0% |
| Newly initiated use | 7.5% | 25.0% |
| Long-term use | 34.2% | 42.0% |
| Other selected agents that may influence stroke risk | ||
| NSAIDs | ||
| No use | 88.5% | 85.9% |
| Newly initiated use | 6.7% | 8.6% |
| Long-term use | 4.8% | 5.5% |
| Systemic glucocorticoids | ||
| No use | 96.5% | 96.1% |
| Newly initiated use | 2.0% | 2.4% |
| Long-term use | 1.5% | 1.5% |
| SSRIs | ||
| No use | 94.3% | 93.8% |
| Newly initiated use | 1.5% | 2.0% |
| Long-term use | 4.2% | 4.2% |
| No of initiations | ||
| First | Not applicable | 85.5% |
| Other than first | Not applicable | 14.5% |
Abbreviations: NSAID: non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug; SSRI: selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor.
a
Index date: day of statin initiation for exposed individuals.