Figure 1. Graphic representation of analysis of order of exacerbation and CVAESIs.

Black bars start at study randomization for all patients and indicate exacerbation‐free on study treatment periods. Blue arrows indicate exacerbation start and end dates. Purple bars indicate exacerbation duration. Blue, green, and yellow bars indicate fixed‐length postexacerbation risk periods of 1 to 30 days, 31 to 90 days, and 91 days to 1 year after exacerbation, respectively. Red stars indicate cardiovascular events, no further risk periods are applicable after a cardiovascular event. The representations depict scenarios of event patterns in this analysis. (1) No exacerbation and no cardiovascular event; (2) no exacerbation, but cardiovascular event in exacerbation‐free period; (3) exacerbation (start and end date indicated with blue arrows) with cardiovascular event in the fixed‐length postexacerbation risk period; (4) exacerbation with cardiovascular event during exacerbation period; and (5) multiple exacerbations with no cardiovascular event – the fixed‐length postexacerbation events are reset following each exacerbation. CVAESI indicates cardiovascular adverse events of special interest.