Clinical outcomes of the studied population according to age subgroups
| All patients (n=471) | Age 18.0–35 years (n=100) | Age 35.0–55 years (n=118) | Age 55.0–75 years (n=142) | Age >75 years (n=111) | P value* | |
| Mean follow-up, months (SD) | 52 (28) | 46 (24) | 54 (29) | 52 (26) | 49 (26) | 0.765 |
| RP at 18 months, n (%) | 142 (30.1%) | 43 (43.0%) | 41 (34.7%) | 40 (28.2%) | 18 (16.2%) | <0.001 |
| Need of hospitalisation, n (%) | 333 (70.7%) | 53 (53.0%) | 80 (67.8%) | 103 (72.5%) | 97 (87.4%) | <0.001 |
| New-onset AF, n (%) | 37 (7.9%) | 0 | 2 (1.7%) | 13 (9.2%) | 22 (19.8%) | <0.001 |
| Cardiac tamponade, n (%) | 32 (6.8%) | 2 (2.0%) | 4 (3.4%) | 12 (8.5%) | 14 (12.6%) | 0.005 |
| Constrictive pericarditis, n (%) | 13 (2.8%) | 0 | 3 (2.5%) | 8 (5.6%) | 2 (1.8%) | 0.480 |
| Cumulative therapy | ||||||
| Colchicine, n (%) | 358 (76.0%) | 98 (98.0%) | 92 (78.0%) | 100 (70.4%) | 68 (61.3%) | <0.001 |
| Aspirin/NSAIDs, n (%) | 399 (84.9%) | 94 (94.0% | 106 (90.6%) | 114 (80.3%) | 85 (76.6%) | 0.006 |
| Corticosteroids, n (%) | 141 (29.9%) | 26 (26.0%) | 30 (25.4%) | 43 (30.3%) | 42 (37.8%) | 0.037 |
| Anakinra, n (%) | 41 (8.9%) | 20 (20.0%) | 7 (5.9%) | 9 (6.3%) | 5 (4.5%) | 0.072 |
| Adverse effects, n (%) | 59 (12.5%) | 3 (3.0%) | 13 (11.0%) | 18 (12.7%) | 25 (22.5%) | <0.001 |
| Death, n (%)† | 36 (7.6%) | 1 (1.0%) | 6 (5.1%) | 7 (4.9%) | 22 (19.8%) | <0.001 |
| Death related to AP, n (%) | 2 (0.4%) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 (1.8%) | – |
Values in bold indicate statistical significance at the p<0.05 level.
*The p value is calculated between group 4 and the other three groups.
†Death from any cause during the entire follow-up.
AF, atrial fibrillation; NSAIDs, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; RP, recurrent pericarditis.