Sensitivity analyses of different lengths of the latency period: multivariable regression
| Hazard ratio (95% CI) | p-value | |
| Latency period | ||
| None | ||
| Time-dependent ICS exposure# | 1.20 (1.02–1.40) | 0.024 |
| Recency-weighted duration of use¶ | 1.19 (1.11–1.28) | <0.001 |
| 6 months | ||
| Time-dependent ICS exposure | 0.91 (0.78–1.05) | 0.197 |
| Recency-weighted duration of use | 0.97 (0.89–1.05) | 0.476 |
| 1 year+ | ||
| Time-dependent ICS exposure | 0.70 (0.61–0.80) | <0.001 |
| Recency-weighted duration of use | 0.74 (0.66–0.82) | <0.001 |
| 2 years | ||
| Time-dependent ICS exposure | 0.32 (0.28–0.37) | <0.001 |
| Recency-weighted duration of use | 0.31 (0.26–0.37) | <0.001 |
| Cohort (age ≥65 years) | ||
| Time-dependent ICS exposure | 0.66 (0.56–0.77) | <0.001 |
| Recency-weighted duration of use | 0.70 (0.62–0.79) | <0.001 |
ICS: inhaled corticosteroid. #: reference case for the analysis; ¶: the recency-weighted duration of use exposure metric is presented because it was selected as the best model based on Akaike Information Criterion values (an a priori specified criterion); +: a 1-year latency period was assumed in the primary analysis and is presented here for comparison.