Table 3.

Sensitivity analysis in the estimation of the SLE risk for APS exposure in age-matched and sex-matched populations.

Scenario	Definition of SLE event	aHR* (95%CI)
1	At least three outpatient visits or 1 admission within 1 year by rheumatologist (main finding)	80.70 (51.37–126.77)
2	Scenario 1+ treated with systemic corticosteroids or DMARDs (including HCQ or azathioprine)	81.12 (51.27–128.37)
3	Scenario 1+ treated with DMARDs (including HCQ or azathioprine)†	82.46 (48.82–139.28)
4	Exclusion of patients with rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren's syndrome, systemic sclerosis, vasculitis, thyroiditis, ankylosing spondylitis, inflammatory bowel disease, human immunodeficiency virus, AIHA, ITP at baseline (excluding secondary APS)	88.90 (55.21–143.12)

^*aHR of AIHA exposure on the risk of SLE, the covariates including age group, sex, urbanisation, low income, length of hospital stay, and comorbidities listed in Table 1.

^†The treatment of SLE was identified within 6 months after first diagnosis of SLE.

SLE, systemic lupus erythematosus; APS, anti-phospholipid syndrome; aHR, adjusted HR; DMARD, disease modifying antirheumatic drugs; HCQ, hydroxychloroquine; AIHA, autoimmune hemolytic anemias; ITP, immune thrombocytopenia.