Characteristics at time-zero | HCQ reduction | HCQ maintenance | HCQ discontinuation | HCQ maintenance |
aHR (95% CI) | aHR (95% CI) | aHR (95% CI) | aHR (95% CI) | |
Male sex | 0.93 (0.66 to 1.32) | 0.96 (0.68 to 1.34) | 0.97 (0.64 to 1.46) | 0.77 (0.52 to 1.15) |
Non-Caucasians | 1.27 (1.00 to 1.61) | 1.02 (0.81 to 1.28) | 0.96 (0.70 to 1.32) | 0.96 (0.73 to 1.27) |
Age at SLE diagnosis in years | 1.00 (0.99 to 1.01) | 1.00 (0.99 to 1.01) | 0.99 (0.98 to 1.00) | 1.01 (1.00 to 1.02) |
No college/university education | 1.01 (0.82 to 1.24) | 1.10 (0.90 to 1.36) | 1.43 (1.09 to 1.87) | 0.92 (0.72 to 1.18) |
Geographic location | ||||
North America | Reference | Reference | Reference | Reference |
Europe | 1.24 (0.98 to 1.59) | 1.16 (0.91 to 1.48) | 1.02 (0.75 to 1.37) | 0.99 (0.75 to 1.31) |
Asia | 0.70 (0.51 to 0.94) | 1.00 (0.69 to 1.43) | 0.73 (0.49 to 1.08) | 0.87 (0.56 to 1.34) |
SLE duration | 1.00 (0.96 to 1.04) | 1.01 (0.98 to 1.06) | 1.00 (0.96 to 1.04) | 1.02 (0.98 to 1.06) |
Active disease (SLEDAI-2K ≥4) | 1.17 (0.95 to 1.44) | 1.22 (0.98 to 1.51) | 1.25 (0.95 to 1.64) | 1.22 (0.95 to 1.56) |
Renal damage | 0.88 (0.57 to 1.37) | 0.94 (0.58 to 1.53) | 0.88 (0.60 to 1.30) | 0.88 (0.49 to 1.56) |
Body mass index | 1.02 (1.00 to 1.05) | 0.99 (0.98 to 1.01) | 0.99 (0.97 to 1.01) | 1.00 (0.97 to 1.02) |
Smoker | 1.07 (0.85 to 1.35) | 0.88 (0.70 to 1.11) | 1.02 (0.78 to 1.35) | 0.94 (0.71 to 1.23) |
On prednisone | 1.49 (1.16 to 1.91) | 1.65 (1.28 to 2.13) | 1.58 (1.15 to 2.17) | 1.87 (1.38 to 2.54) |
On immunosuppressives | 1.37 (1.09 to 1.72) | 1.84 (1.46 to 2.32) | 1.31 (0.96 to 1.77) | 1.84 (1.39 to 2.44) |
On biologics | 0.72 (0.39 to 1.35) | 1.00 (0.51 to 1.95) | 0.70 (0.35 to 1.39) | 0.77 (0.33 to 1.79) |
Renal damage was defined as a score ≥1 in the SLICC/ACR Damage Index renal item (low glomerular filtration rate, proteinuria or end-stage renal failure). Prednisone, immunosuppressives and biologics were dichotomous variables (yes/no). Immunosuppressive drugs included azathioprine, mycophenolate and methotrexate. Biologics included belimumab, rituximab and abatacept.
Bolded values are those whose 95% CI excludes the null value.
ACR, American College of Rheumatology; aHR, adjusted HR; HCQ, hydroxychloroquine; SLE, systemic lupus erythematosus; SLEDAI-2K, SLE Disease Activity Index-2000; SLICC, Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics.