Table 2.
Associations between study endpoints and biologic compared with conventional synthetic DMARD
| Initial treatment | Number of patients | Number of events | Person- years | Rate per 100 person-years | Crude matched HR | Adjusted a HR (95% CI) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Severe COPD exacerbation | ||||||
| Biologic DMARD | 7424 | 74 | 4058 | 1.8 | 0.74 | 0.76 (0.55, 1.06) |
| csDMARD | 7424 | 90 | 3533 | 2.5 | 1.00 | 1.00 (reference) |
| Bronchitis | ||||||
| Biologic DMARD | 7424 | 195 | 4000 | 4.9 | 1.00 | 1.02 (0.82, 1.27) |
| csDMARD | 7424 | 175 | 3483 | 5.0 | 1.00 | 1.00 (reference) |
| Severe pneumonia/influenza | ||||||
| Biologic DMARD | 7424 | 130 | 4042 | 3.2 | 1.06 | 1.21 (0.92, 1.58) |
| csDMARD | 7424 | 109 | 3530 | 3.1 | 1.00 | 1.00 (reference) |
| Outpatient pneumonia/influenza | ||||||
| Biologic DMARD | 7424 | 575 | 3855 | 14.9 | 0.96 | 0.99 (0.87, 1.12) |
| csDMARD | 7424 | 537 | 3335 | 16.1 | 1.00 | 1.00 (reference) |
| Combined respiratory endpointb | ||||||
| Biologic DMARD | 7424 | 386 | 3927 | 9.8 | 0.98 | 1.04 (0.89, 1.21) |
| csDMARD | 7424 | 352 | 3414 | 10.3 | 1.00 | 1.00 (reference) |
a
Adjusted for age, injection corticosteroids, other immunosuppressants, prior hospitalization, prior hospitalized infection, prior joint replacement, methotrexate, hydroxychloroquine and leflunomide. bIncludes the first of severe COPD exacerbation, severe pneumonia or influenza, or bronchitis. csDMARD: conventional synthetic DMARD; COPD: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; HR: hazard ratio.