Table 1.
Baseline characteristics of statin users and non-usersa.
| Total N | Statin | No statin | p-value |
|---|---|---|---|
| n (%) or median (IQ-range) | |||
| N = 241 | N = 739 | ||
| Age [years] | 75.0 (70.0; 81.0) | 75.0 (69.0; 81.0) | 0.63 |
| Females | 107 (44%) | 351 (47%) | 0.40 |
| Smoking status | 0.77 | ||
| current smoker | 18 (7%) | 58 (8%) | |
| past smoker | 103 (43%) | 295 (40%) | |
| never smoker | 120 (50%) | 383 (52%) | |
| Family history of pulmonary embolism/deep vein thrombosis | 37 (15%) | 125 (17%) | 0.57 |
| Known thrombophilia | 2 (1%) | 11 (1%) | 0.44 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 61 (25%) | 91 (12%) | <0.01 |
| Hypercholesterolaemia | 206 (85%) | 87 (12%) | <0.01 |
| Coronary heart disease | 101 (42%) | 68 (9%) | <0.01 |
| Peripheral arterial disease | 29 (12%) | 40 (5%) | <0.01 |
| Cerebrovascular disease (stroke/ transient ischaemic attack) | 50 (21%) | 40 (5%) | <0.01 |
| Cardiovascular disease (coronary/peripheral/ | |||
| cerebrovascular) | 180 (75%) | 148 (20%) | <0.01 |
| Arterial hypertension | <0.01 | ||
| no | 49 (20%) | 301 (41%) | |
| yes (treated) | 189 (78%) | 416 (56%) | |
| yes (untreated) | 3 (1%) | 22 (3%) | |
| Chronic lung disease | 34 (14%) | 102 (14%) | 0.91 |
| Body-mass index [kg/m2] | 27.7 (24.6; 30.8) | 26.4 (23.8; 29.7) | <0.01 |
| Body-mass index ≥25 | 174 (72%) | 463 (63%) | <0.01 |
| Symptomatic pulmonary embolism | 186 (77%) | 491 (66%) | <0.01 |
| Prior venous thromboembolismb | 75 (31%) | 203 (27%) | 0.28 |
| Major surgery during the last 3 months | 44 (18%) | 102 (14%) | 0.09 |
| Current oestrogen therapy during the last 3 months | 4 (2%) | 28 (4%) | 0.11 |
| Immobilisation during the last 3 months | 57 (24%) | 159 (22%) | 0.49 |
| Provoked venous thromboembolism | 75 (31%) | 219 (30%) | 0.66 |
| Active cancer | 38 (16%) | 138 (19%) | 0.31 |
| History of major bleeding | 37 (15%) | 63 (9%) | <0.01 |
| Chronic renal disease | 67 (28%) | 117 (16%) | <0.01 |
| Polypharmacy | 193 (80%) | 304 (41%) | <0.01 |
| Anticoagulation prior to venous thromboembolism | 19 (8%) | 32 (4%) | 0.03 |
| Initial parenteral anticoagulation | 232 (96%) | 714 (97%) | 0.80 |
| Type of initial parenteral anticoagulation | 0.02 | ||
| Low molecular weight heparin | 94 (39%) | 366 (50%) | |
| Unfractionated heparin | 97 (40%) | 233 (32%) | |
| Fondaparinux | 40 (17%) | 115 (16%) | |
| Danaparoid | 1 (0%) | 0 (0%) | |
| None | 9 (4%) | 25 (3%) | |
| Initial vitamin K antagonist therapy | 211 (88%) | 640 (87%) | 0.705 |
| Concomitant antiplatelet therapy | 149 (62%) | 166 (22%) | <0.001 |
| Aspirin | 127 (53%) | 154 (21%) | <0.001 |
| Duration of initial anticoagulation [months] | 11.1 (5.2; 28.7) | 7.1 (3.7; 23.7) | 0.012 |
| Fibrinogen at the time of venous thromboembolism [g/L] | 4.8 (3.7; 5.8) | 4.5 (3.6; 5.6) | 0.102 |
| Ultrasensitive C-Reactive Protein at the time of venous thromboembolism [mg/L] | 22.2 (6.1; 63.6) | 23.6 (8.5; 62.1) | 0.260 |
aMissing: 3 (0%) for smoking status, 8 (1%) for family history of venous thromboembolism, 18 (2%) for systolic blood pressure, 4 (0%) for body-mass index, 1 (0%) for oestrogen therapy, 1 (0%) for history of major bleeding, 125 (13%) for fibrinogen, 124 (13%) for ultrasensitive C-Reactive Protein.
bVenous thromboembolism prior to the index venous thromboembolism.