Table 2. Multivariate-adjusted least-squares (LS) means of z score of leukocyte telomere length (LTL) and relative LTL difference by categories of modifiable risk factors in women.
| Risk factors | n (%) | Model 1* | Model 2† | ||
| LS means (SE) | % Difference‡ (95% CI) | LS means (SE) | % Difference‡ (95% CI) | ||
| Smoking status | |||||
| Never smoked | 2591 (44.2) | 0.043 (0.020) | 8.0% (0.5%, 16.7%) | 0.044 (0.020) | 7.6% (−0.4%, 16.2%) |
| Past smoker | 2425 (41.4) | 0.004 (0.020) | 4.1% (−3.5%, 12.3%) | 0.001 (0.020) | 2.9% (−4.8%, 11.2%) |
| Current smoker | 846 (14.4) | −0.036 (0.034) | Reference | −0.029 (0.035) | Reference |
| Body mass index (kg/m2) | |||||
| <18.5 | 72 (1.2) | −0.085 (0.117) | −5.7% (−25.1%, 18.7%) | −0.084 (0.118) | −6.2% (−25.4%, 18.1%) |
| 18.5–24.9 | 3288 (56.1) | 0.033 (0.017) | 6.1% (−2.2%, 15.1%) | 0.031 (0.018) | 5.3% (−3.1%, 14.4%) |
| 25.0–29.9 | 1753 (29.9) | 0.005 (0.024) | 3.2% (−5.4%, 12.5%) | 0.006 (0.024) | 2.6% (−5.9%, 12.0%) |
| ≥30 | 749 (12.8) | −0.026 (0.037) | Reference | −0.021 (0.037) | Reference |
| Moderate to vigorous physical activity (minutes/week) | |||||
| ≥150 | 2072 (35.4) | 0.045 (0.022) | 6.2% (−0.5%, 13.3%) | 0.037 (0.022) | 4.3% (−2.4%, 11.5%) |
| 60–149 | 1000 (17.1) | 0.016 (0.031) | 3.1% (−4.6%, 11.4%) | 0.015 (0.032) | 2.0% (−5.6%, 10.2%) |
| <60 | 1069 (18.2) | 0.005 (0.030) | 2.0% (−5.4%, 10.0%) | 0.007 (0.031) | 1.2% (−6.2%, 9.1%) |
| 0 | 1721 (29.4) | −0.015 (0.024) | Reference | −0.005 (0.024) | Reference |
| AHEI diet score¶ (range) | |||||
| Quartile 4 (46.6–73.2) | 1465 (25.0) | 0.036 (0.026) | 6.8% (−0.6%, 14.7%) | 0.027 (0.027) | 5.0% (−2.6%, 13.1%) |
| Quartile 3 (39.9–46.6) | 1467 (25.0) | 0.041 (0.026) | 7.3% (0.0%, 15.2%) | 0.037 (0.026) | 6.1% (−1.3%, 14.1%) |
| Quartile 2 (33.5–39.8) | 1465 (25.0) | 0.015 (0.026) | 4.6% (−2.7%, 12.5%) | 0.019 (0.026) | 4.2% (−3.2%, 12.1%) |
| Quartile 1 (9.1–33.4) | 1465 (25.0) | −0.030 (0.026) | Reference | −0.022 (0.027) | Reference |
| Alcohol use | |||||
| ≥2 drinks/day | 348 (5.9) | 0.054 (0.053) | 3.9% (−6.3%, 15.3%) | 0.067 (0.054) | 5.4% (−5.2%, 17.2%) |
| 1 drink/week to <2 drinks/day | 2744 (46.8) | 0.012 (0.019) | −0.3% (−5.9%, 5.5%) | 0.011 (0.019) | −0.3% (−6.0%, 5.7%) |
| <1 drink/week | 663 (11.3) | 0.012 (0.039) | −0.4% (−8.6%, 8.6%) | 0.012 (0.039) | −0.2% (−8.5%, 8.7%) |
| Non-user | 2107 (35.9) | 0.015 (0.022) | Reference | 0.014 (0.022) | Reference |
Model 1 was adjusted for age at blood draw and its quadratic term, postmenopausal status (yes, no), hormone replacement therapy (never, past, current), use of aspirin (<1 tablet/wk, 1–2 tablet/wk, 3–6 tablet/wk, 7–14 tablet/wk, 15+ tablet/wk), case-control status in each original studies (yes, no), and family history of myocardial infarction, diabetes, or cancer (yes, no).
Based on model 1, these modifiable risk factors were mutually adjusted for, i.e., we mutually controlled for smoking status (never smoked, past smoker, or current smoker), body mass index (<18.5 kg/m2, 18.5–24.9 kg/m2, 25.0–29.9 kg/m2, or ≥30 kg/m2), moderate to vigorous physical activity (≥150 minutes/week, 60–149 minutes/week, <60 minutes/week, or 0 minutes/week), AHEI diet score (in quartiles), and alcohol use (≥2 drinks/day, 1 drink/week to <2 drinks/day, <1 drink/week, or non-user).
% Difference measures the change of standardized LTL for each category in proportion to the standardized LTL of the reference category for each factor after multivariate adjustment.
AHEI diet score summarized intakes of trans fat, polyunsaturated to saturated fat ratio, ratio of chicken and fish to red meat, fruits, vegetables, soy, nuts, cereal fiber, and multivitamin use.