Table 3 Correlation between PCT quartiles and mortality adjusted for age, sex, hypertension, diabetes, plasma lipids, renal function, BMI and smoking

All-cause mortality

8.39

1.04 (0.76 to 1.42)

1.22 (0.90 to 1.65)

1.52 (1.13 to 2.06)

0.002**

Cancer mortality

3.88

1.11 (0.70 to 1.74)

1.56 (1.01 to 2.41)

1.78 (1.13 to 2.77)

0.004**

CVD mortality

2.34

1.18 (0.64 to 2.19)

1.01 (0.55 to 1.85)

1.42 (0.79 to 2.57)

0.266

Mortality from causes other than cancer and CVD

2.16

0.90 (0.49 to 1.66)

1.07 (0.59 to1.93)

1.47 (0.82 to 2.63)

0.126

All-cause mortality

11.14

0.99 (0.67 to 1.47)

0.96 (0.66 to 1.40)

1.52 (1.07 to 2.16)

0.024*

Cancer mortality

4.92

1.71 (0.95 to 3.07)

1.38 (0.76 to 2.50)

2.37 (1.36 to 4.14)

0.006**

CVD mortality

3.13

0.66 (0.30 to 1.45)

0.69 (0.34 to 1.39)

1.18 (0.62 to 2.25)

0.539

Mortality from causes other than cancer and CVD

3.09

0.71 (0.33 to 1.53)

0.91 (0.46 to 1.78)

1.28 (0.67 to 2.45)

0.428

All-cause mortality

6.30

1.29 (0.76 to 2.20)

1.37 (0.79 to 2.38)

1.61 (0.94 to 2.75)

0.081

Cancer mortality

3.13

1.43 (0.72 to 2.83)

1.17 (0.55 to 2.48)

1.57 (0.76 to 3.23)

0.352

CVD mortality

1.74

0.86 (0.27 to 2.97)

1.38 (0.43 to 4.44)

1.47 (0.47 to 4.62)

0.245

Mortality from causes other than cancer and CVD

1.46

1.50 (0.47 to 4.77)

1.93 (0.59 to 6.28)

1.90 (0.58 to 6.16)

0.281