Table 2.
Multivariable associations between RA disease and patient characteristics with VTE and ASCVD risk*
| Variables | aHR (95% CI) for VTE versus no CVD | aHR (95% CI) for ASCVD versus no CVD |
| Age groups | ||
| <45 years | Reference | Reference |
| 45–64 years | 1.61 (1.04 to 2.55) | 3.13 (1.91 to 4.92) |
| ≥65 years | 2.32 (1.49 to 3.75) | 7.94 (4.88 to 13.21) |
| Man | 1.37 (1.05 to 1.73) | 1.79 (1.55 to 2.08) |
| Caucasian | 0.96 (0.69 to 1.42) | 1.19 (0.94 to 1.44) |
| RA duration, years | 1.00 (0.99 to 1.01) | 1.00 (0.99 to 1.00) |
| BMI in WHO categories | ||
| Underweight | 0.66 (0.30 to 1.61) | 1.53 (1.12 to 2.07) |
| Normal weight | Reference | Reference |
| Overweight | 1.04 (0.82 to 1.41) | 0.73 (0.61 to 0.82) |
| Obese | 1.47 (1.14 to 1.89) | 0.56 (0.48 to 0.66) |
| Exercise | 1.03 (0.90 to 1.16) | 1.15 (0.99 to 1.19) |
| RDCI | 1.20 (1.14 to 1.31) | 1.13 (1.08 to 1.19) |
| Ever smoked | 0.91 (0.76 to 1.12) | 1.07 (0.97 to 1.20) |
| Diabetes | 0.99 (0.76 to 1.32) | 1.39 (1.20 to 1.62) |
| Hypertension | 1.19 (0.90 to 1.50) | 1.21 (1.07 to 1.39) |
| Chronic kidney disease | 1.08 (0.88 to 1.45) | 1.31 (1.10 to 1.66) |
| Pulmonary disease | 0.92 (0.67 to 1.22) | 1.00 (0.99 to 1.21) |
| Prior fracture† | 1.62 (1.39 to 1.91) | 1.15 (1.01 to 1.29) |
| Prior cancer† | 1.10 (0.81 to 1.42) | 1.05 (0.88 to 1.19) |
| Recent hospitalisation§ | 1.09 (0.89 to 1.67) | 1.06 (0.91 to 1.23) |
| Recent surgeries§ | 1.18 (0.93 to 2.02) | 1.14 (0.99 to 1.31) |
| HAQ disability (0–3) | 1.22 (1.04 to 1.44) | 1.29 (1.15 to 1.41) |
| Moderate/high disease activity versus remission/low disease activity‡ | 1.31 (1.07 to 1.61) | 1.32 (1.18 to 1.50) |
| Medication use | ||
| Glucocorticoids | 1.99 (1.66 to 2.40) | 1.37 (1.22 to 1.56) |
| Methotrexate | 1.01 (0.84 to 1.20) | 0.89 (0.77 to 1.00) |
| Hydroxychloroquine | 0.79 (0.62 to 0.98) | 0.81 (0.71 to 0.92) |
| TNFi | 1.06 (0.82 to 1.30) | 1.00 (0.84 to 1.15) |
| Other b/tsDMARDs | 0.85 (0.51 to 1.16) | 1.08 (0.78 to 1.50) |
| NSAID | 0.79 (0.65 to 1.04) | 0.96 (0.90 to 1.01) |
| Aspirin | 0.81 (0.64 to 1.02) | 1.09 (0.98 to 1.32) |
| Statin | 1.01 (0.79 to 1.28) | 1.10 (0.95 to 1.28) |
| Oestrogen | 0.94 (0.71 to 1.27) | 0.89 (0.73 to 1.04) |
*The model also included location of residence, insurance type, annual income and calendar year.
†Prior fracture and cancer diagnosis >1 year before cohort entry and not on active treatment.
‡Disease activity assessed by Patient Activity Scale (PAS) (evaluated in a separate model without individual components of PAS).
§Recent hospitalisation or surgery within the last 6 months.
aHR, adjusted HR; ASCVD, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease; BMI, body mass index; b/tsDMARDs, biological or targeted synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs; CVD, cardiovascular disease; HAQ, Health Assessment Questionnaire; NSAID, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug; RA, rheumatoid arthritis; RDCI, Rheumatic Diseases Comorbidity Index; TNFi, tumour necrosis factor-α inhibitor; VTE, venous thromboembolism.