The risk of sudden cardiac arrest in obstructive pulmonary disease categorized in subgroups by disease severity and current use of respiratory medication. Categories are mutually exclusive.

Data are number (%) or odds ratios (95% confidence interval).ATC: Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical classification system, AC: anticholinergics, CI: confidence interval, ICS: inhaled corticosteroids, LABA: long-acting β2-adrenoreceptor agonists, N: number, OPD: obstructive pulmonary disease, OR: odds ratio, SABA: short-acting β2-adrenoreceptor agonists.1Adjusted for concomitant cardiovascular disease.2Number of different respiratory drugs used (ATC code R03) in the six-month period before index date. Patients with mild OPD are patients who received at least two prescriptions of any drug ATC code R03 (drugs for obstructive airway diseases), within one year prior to the index date, but who did not use any of these drugs in the six-month period before index date.