Table 2 Risks of adverse outcomes associated with categorical changes in aortic stiffness, assessed by multivariable Cox regressions

Quartiles of annual relative change

 Q1 ( < − 1.38% per year)

1.48 (0.78–2.82)

0.23

1.94 (0.96–3.93)

0.067

1.98 (1.07–3.65)

0.029

2.71 (1.15–6.40)

0.023

 Q2 (− 1.38 to + 1.10% per year)

1.0 (REF)

–

1.0 (REF)

–

1.0 (REF)

–

1.0 (REF)

–

 Q3 (+ 1.11 to + 4.03% per year)

1.96 (1.06–3.64)

0.032

2.32 (1.10–4.51)

0.025

3.16 (1.75–5.70)

< 0.001

3.15 (1.33–7.43)

0.009

 Q4 ( > + 4.03% per year)

1.45 (0.74–2.83)

0.28

1.71 (0.81–3.63)

0.16

3.19 (1.75–5.82)

< 0.001

2.00 (0.80-5.00)

0.14

Relative annual change

 Reduced (< − 1% per year)

1.73 (0.86–3.48)

0.12

2.32 (1.07–5.04)

0.034

2.15 (1.10–4.20)

0.025

3.31 (1.22–8.99)

0.019

 Stable (− 1% to + 1% per year)

1.0 (REF)

–

1.0 (REF)

–

1.0 (REF)

–

1.0 (REF)

–

 Increased ( > + 1% per year)

1.90 (1.00-3.60)

0.050

2.29 (1.09–4.81)

0.028

3.39 (1.81–6.35)

< 0.001

3.23 (1.23–8.49)

0.017