Best-fitting multivariable model.
| Variable | HR1 | 95% CI | p |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main exposures2 | |||
| Continuous use of MTX in the last 12 mos | 0.79 | 0.70–0.88 | < 0.0001 |
| Continuous use of other csDMARD in the last 12 mos | 1.00 | 0.98–1.02 | 0.9927 |
| Cumulative duration of use since cohort entry3 | |||
| Glucocorticosteroids | 1.08 | 1.05–1.11 | < 0.0001 |
| NSAID | 1.02 | 0.98–1.07 | 0.2927 |
| COXIB | 1.03 | 1.00–1.06 | 0.0335 |
| Anti-TNF | 1.02 | 0.94–1.12 | 0.5904 |
| Other bDMARD | 0.44 | 0.10–1.99 | 0.2872 |
| Statins | 0.96 | 0.94–0.98 | 0.0008 |
| Antihypertensives | 1.02 | 1.00–1.04 | 0.1225 |
| Baseline medications2 | |||
| Methotrexate | 1.06 | 0.97–1.15 | 0.2072 |
| Other DMARD | 1.05 | 0.97–1.13 | 0.2677 |
| Glucocorticosteroids | 1.04 | 0.96–1.12 | 0.3692 |
| Anti-TNF | 1.00 | 0.51–1.94 | 0.9888 |
| COXIB | 0.93 | 0.87–1.00 | 0.0508 |
| NSAID | 0.99 | 0.92–1.06 | 0.743 |
| Statins | 1.07 | 0.97–1.18 | 0.164 |
| Antihypertensive agents | 1.25 | 1.12–1.39 | < 0.0001 |
| Demographics | |||
| Female (REF: Male) | 0.71 | 0.66–0.76 | < 0.0001 |
| Age (at cohort entry) | 1.05 | 0.93–1.18 | 0.4754 |
| Age (at cohort entry) squared | 1.00 | 1.00–1.00 | 0.9664 |
| Income 1 (lowest; REF: Income 5, highest) | 1.09 | 0.97–1.22 | 0.1424 |
| Income 2 | 1.05 | 0.95–1.17 | 0.3532 |
| Income 3 | 1.15 | 1.03–1.28 | 0.0118 |
| Income 4 | 1.07 | 0.96–1.20 | 0.2015 |
| Urban (REF: rural) | 0.86 | 0.78–0.95 | 0.0032 |
| Healthcare use | |||
| No. rheumatology visits in baseline period | 0.98 | 0.97–1.00 | 0.0859 |
| No. rheumatology visits in followup | 1.00 | 1.00–1.01 | 0.0438 |
| High healthcare use1 (REF: low) | 1.13 | 1.03–1.23 | 0.0069 |
| Prior joint replacement | 0.96 | 0.86–1.06 | 0.4258 |
| Total ADG | 1.00 | 0.99–1.01 | 0.7749 |
| Baseline comorbidities | |||
| Coronary artery disease | 1.72 | 1.57–1.87 | < 0.0001 |
| AMI | 1.53 | 1.32–1.77 | < 0.0001 |
| Acute renal failure | 1.46 | 1.19–1.79 | 0.0003 |
| Chronic kidney disease | 1.42 | 1.20–1.69 | < 0.0001 |
| Diabetes | 1.41 | 1.30–1.52 | < 0.0001 |
| Cerebrovascular disease | 1.36 | 1.03–1.80 | 0.0294 |
| Development of extraarticular manifestations in followup | 1.25 | 1.16–1.34 | < 0.0001 |
| Hypertension | 1.16 | 1.05–1.28 | 0.0039 |
| COPD/asthma | 1.11 | 1.03–1.20 | 0.0052 |
| Osteoarthritis | 0.98 | 0.91–1.06 | 0.644 |
| Osteoporosis | 0.97 | 0.85–1.11 | 0.6883 |
| Cancer | 0.95 | 0.86–1.04 | 0.2568 |
↵1 Adjusted for all covariates.
↵2 REF: nonuse over the same period as the numerator.
↵3 HR expressed as per year of additional use. MTX: methotrexate; ADG: aggregated diagnosis groups; AMI: acute myocardial infarction; bDMARD: biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs; COPD: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; COXIB: cyclooxygenase inhibitors; csDMARD: conventional synthetic DMARD; NSAID: nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug; TNF: tumor necrosis factor.