Baseline characteristics of statin users and non-statin users aged ≥16 years
| Baseline characteristics | Statin users (n=539 431) | Non-users (n=539 431) |
| Duration of follow-up (years) | ||
| Mean (SD) | 4.5 (3.4) | 4.1 (2.6) |
| Sex, n (%) | ||
| Female | 257 202 (47.7) | 257 202 (47.7) |
| Age (years) | ||
| Mean (SD) | 62.7 (12.7) | 61.9 (13.5) |
| Age by category, years (%) | ||
| ≤59 | 238 092 (44.1) | 252 672 (46.8) |
| 60–79 | 242 331 (44.9) | 221 013 (41.0) |
| 80+ | 59 008 (11.0) | 65 746 (12.2) |
| BMI (kg/m2) | ||
| Mean (SD) | 27.3 (7.8) | 21.0 (11.6) |
| Unknown BMI | 29 566 (5.5) | 111 025 (20.6) |
| Smoking status, n (%) | ||
| Non-smoker | 224 945 (41.7) | 242 946 (45.0) |
| Ex-smoker | 168 229 (31.2) | 113 898 (21.1) |
| Smoker | 122 289 (22.7) | 106 473 (19.8) |
| Unknown smoking status | 23 968 (4.4) | 76 114 (14.1) |
| Drinking status, n (%) | ||
| Non-drinker | 68 056 (12.6) | 56 286 (10.4) |
| Ex-drinker | 33 857 (6.3) | 21 352 (4.0) |
| Drinker | 370 711 (68.7) | 333 313 (61.8) |
| Unknown drinking status | 66 807 (12.4) | 128 480 (23.8) |
| Drug use within previous six months, n (%) | ||
| Antihypertensive agents | 329 228 (61.0) | 124 612 (23.1) |
| Fibrates | 8960 (1.7) | 903 (0.2) |
| Ezetimibe | 2077 (0.4) | 133 (0.02) |
| Antidiabetic agents | 129 816 (24.1) | 18 793 (3.5) |
| Aspirin | 146 641 (27.2) | 36 973 (6.9) |
| Anti-arrhythmic agents | 20 961 (3.9) | 11 436 (2.1) |
| NSAIDs | 205 971 (38.2) | 89 882 (16.7) |
| Proton pump inhibitors | 87 041 (16.1) | 48 796 (9.1) |
| Hormone replacement therapy or oral contraceptives | 21 958 (4.1) | 21 150 (3.9) |
| Oral corticosteroids | 18 098 (3.4) | 15 701 (2.9) |
| Antibiotics | 49 306 (9.1) | 37 394 (6.9) |
| Anticonvulsants | 11 401 (2.1) | 8282 (1.5) |
| Antipsychotics | 5896 (1.1) | 6291 (1.2) |
| Antidepressants | 120 425 (22.3) | 98 630 (18.3) |
| History of disease ever before, n (%) | ||
| Hypertension* | 329 257 (61.0) | 124 621 (23.1) |
| Hyperlipidaemia | 160 221 (29.7) | 12 839 (2.4) |
| Diabetes† | 130 198 (24.1) | 18 962 (3.5) |
| Cardiovascular diseases | 176 908 (32.8) | 47 839 (8.9) |
| Cerebrovascular disease | 60 552 (11.2) | 17 110 (3.2) |
| Cancer | 35 380 (6.6) | 40 220 (7.5) |
| Psoriasis | 20 821 (3.9) | 17 095 (3.2) |
| Inflammatory bowel disease | 5298 (1.0) | 5297 (1.0) |
| COPD | 21 165 (3.9) | 20 866 (3.9) |
| Asthma | 64 470 (12.0) | 55 677 (10.3) |
| Dementia | 5079 (0.9) | 8611 (1.6) |
| Depression | 75 507 (14.0) | 50 671 (9.4) |
*Diagnosis of hypertension or use of antihypertensive agents.
†Diagnosis of diabetes mellitus or use of antidiabetic therapy.
BMI, body mass index; COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; NSAIDs, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.