Baseline characteristics of incident IIM cases and matched general population comparators with available medication records.
| Characteristics | Patients with IIM, n = 397 | General Population, n = 4166 |
|---|---|---|
| Followup, yrs, median (IQR) | 3.5 (2.3–5.5) | 4.1 (2.8–6.0) |
| Women | 216 (54) | 2273 (55) |
| Age, yrs, mean ± SD | 61 ± 15 | 62 ± 15 |
| Diagnosis | ||
| Dermatomyositis | 144 (36) | |
| Other IIM | 253 (64) | |
| Cardiac comorbidities | ||
| Stroke | 11 (3) | 116 (3) |
| Atrial fibrillation | 27 (7) | 193 (5) |
| Angina | 15 (4) | 119 (3) |
| Heart failure | 14 (4) | 85 (2) |
| Diabetes | 19 (5) | 175 (4) |
| Hypertension | 76 (19) | 470 (11) |
| Medications | ||
| Cardiovascular drugs | 231 (58) | 1589 (38) |
| Acetylsalicylic acid | 79 (20) | 514 (12) |
| Antidiabetics | 43 (11) | 261 (6) |
| Statins, fibrates | 46 (12) | 664 (16) |
| NSAID, COX-2 inhibitors | 101 (25) | 510 (12) |
| Hormone therapy | 5 (1) | 44 (1) |
| Corticosteroids | 289 (73) | 148 (4) |
| Other immunosuppressors* | 178 (45) | 42 (1) |
Values are n (%) unless otherwise specified.
↵* Including calcineurin inhibitors, methotrexate, azathioprine, mycophenolate mofetil, and hydroxychloroquine. IQR: interquartile range; IIM: idiopathic inflammatory myopathy; NSAID: nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs; COX: cyclooxygenase.