Baseline characteristics of statin users and non-statin users
| Baseline characteristics | Statin users (n=519 847) | Non-users (n=519 847) |
| Duration of follow-up (years) | ||
| Mean (SD) | 4.5 (3.4) | 4.1 (2.6) |
| Sex, n (%) | ||
| Female | 250 608 (48.2) | 250 608 (48.2) |
| Age (years) | ||
| Mean (SD) | 63.1 (12.1) | 62.9 (12.5) |
| Age by category, years (%) | ||
| 40–49 | 70 047 (13.5) | 74 647 (14.4) |
| 50–59 | 148 461 (28.6) | 158 441 (30.5) |
| 60–79 | 242 331 (46.6) | 221 013 (42.5) |
| 80+ | 59 008 (11.3) | 65 746 (12.6) |
| BMI (kg/m2) | ||
| Mean (SD) | 26.9 (8.4) | 21.0 (11.6) |
| Unknown BMI | 28 284 (5.4) | 105 970 (20.4) |
| Smoking status, n (%) | ||
| Non-smoker | 213 123 (41.7) | 234 762 (45.1) |
| Ex-smoker | 216 786 (31.6) | 111 623 (21.5) |
| Smoker | 164 492 (22.3) | 100 837 (19.4) |
| Unknown smoking status | 22 935 (4.4) | 72 625 (14.0) |
| Drinking status, n (%) | ||
| Non-drinker | 65 250 (12.6) | 54 528 (10.5) |
| Ex-drinker | 32 799 (6.3) | 20 856 (4.0) |
| Drinker | 358 004 (68.8) | 321 916 (61.9) |
| Unknown drinking status | 63 794 (12.3) | 122 547 (23.6) |
| Drug use within previous 6 months, n (%) | ||
| Antihypertensive agents | 323 170 (62.2) | 124 169 (23.9) |
| Fibrates | 8565 (1.6) | 900 (0.2) |
| Ezetimibe | 1969 (0.4) | 133 (0.03) |
| Antidiabetic agents | 122 185 (23.5) | 18 603 (3.6) |
| Aspirin | 145 039 (27.9) | 36 945 (7.1) |
| Antiarrhythmic agents | 20 625 (4.0) | 11 301 (2.2) |
| NSAIDs | 202 011 (38.9) | 88 625 (17.0) |
| Proton pump inhibitors | 84 995 (16.4) | 48 211 (9.3) |
| Hormone replacement therapy or oral contraceptives | 21 629 (4.2) | 21 005 (4.0) |
| Oral corticosteroids | 17 673 (3.4) | 15 574 (3.0) |
| Antibiotics | 47 321 (9.1) | 36 493 (7.0) |
| Anticonvulsants | 10 850 (2.1) | 8126 (1.6) |
| Antipsychotics | 5444 (1.0) | 6190 (1.2) |
| Antidepressants | 115 564 (22.2) | 95 293 (18.3) |
| History of disease ever before, n (%) | ||
| Hypertension* | 323 170 (62.2) | 124 169 (23.9) |
| Hyperlipidaemia | 153 758 (29.6) | 12 734 (2.4) |
| Diabetes† | 122 515 (23.6) | 18 762 (3.6) |
| Cardiovascular diseases | 174 982 (33.7) | 47 675 (9.2) |
| Cerebrovascular disease | 59 891 (11.5) | 17 077 (3.3) |
| Cancer | 35 099 (6.8) | 40 046 (7.7) |
| Psoriasis | 20 182 (3.9) | 16 544 (3.2) |
| Inflammatory bowel disease | 5185 (1.0) | 5155 (1.0) |
| COPD | 21 113 (4.1) | 20 849 (4.0) |
| Asthma | 61 503 (11.8) | 53 183 (10.2) |
| Dementia | 5075 (1.0) | 8610 (1.7) |
| Depression | 72 446 (13.9) | 49 371 (9.5) |
*Diagnosis of hypertension or use of antihypertensive agents.
†Diagnosis of diabetes mellitus or use of antidiabetic therapy.
COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; NSAIDs, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.