Table 1.
Difference in clinical characteristics of the population stratified by BNP quartiles
| Variables | BNP Q1 | BNP Q2 | BNP Q3 | BNP Q4 | P value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| n = 170 | n = 170 | n = 170 | n = 170 | ||
| Men, n (%) | 101 (59.4) | 72 (42.4) | 67 (39.4) | 94 (55.3) | <0.0001 a |
| Age, years | 68 ± 5 | 68 ± 5 | 69 ± 6 | 70 ± 5 | 0.015 b |
| BNP, pg/ml | 7.0 (5.5–8.0) | 14.9 (11.2–17.3) | 30.6 (24.3–37.4) | 65.5 (53.9–83.5) | - |
| BNP range, pg/ml | 2.2–9.0 | 9.1–20.4 | 20.5–44.4 | 44.6–99.7 | - |
| BMI, kg/m2 | 23.4 ± 4.1 | 24.4 ± 4.0 | 23.1 ± 4.3 | 22.5 ± 3.3 | 0.017 c |
| ALT, IU/L | 28.5 ± 19.7 | 21.2 ± 13.0 | 18.9 ± 11.5 | 19.3 ± 21.0 | <0.0001 d |
| AST, IU/L | 27.0 ± 14.8 | 24.0 ± 12.1 | 22.5 ± 10.1 | 25.2 ± 20.8 | 0.232 |
| GGT, IU/L | 45.6 ± 58.0 | 30.1 ± 62.2 | 32.9 ± 48.6 | 34.7 ± 43.3 | 0.259 |
| UA, mg/dL | 5.5 ± 1.3 | 5.2 ± 1.4 | 5.1 ± 1.5 | 5.5 ± 1.6 | 0.04 e |
| Cr, mg/dL | 0.78 ± 0.19 | 0.74 ± 0.18 | 0.76 ± 0.24 | 0.81 ± 0.25 | 0.0334 f |
| eGFR (ml/min/1.73 m2) | 74.3 ± 25.9 | 73.6 ± 15.4 | 73.1 ± 19.9 | 70.2 ± 20.8 | 0.1860 |
| TC, mg/dL | 191.3 ± 37.3 | 200.1 ± 38.7 | 188.1 ± 34.2 | 179.6 ± 38.6 | <0.0001 g |
| LDL-C, mg/dL | 115.7 ± 35.0 | 119.0 ± 37.0 | 108.5 ± 33.2 | 107.4 ± 33.7 | 0.022 h |
| HDL-C, mg/dL | 49.1 ± 11.5 | 55.7 ± 15.2 | 53.6 ± 13.8 | 53.0 ± 16.4 | 0.003 i |
| TAG, mg/dL※ | 147.0 (107.3–223.0) | 131.0 (91.75–184.0) | 116.0 (91.0–170.0) | 121.0 (83.0–158.3) | <0.0001 j |
| non-HDL, mg/dL | 142.2 ± 34.6 | 143.5 ± 37.1 | 133.8 ± 33.2 | 125.9 ± 33.3 | 0.081 |
| TSH, mIU/L※ | 1.6 (1.1–3.2) | 1.5 (0.9–2.4) | 1.5 (1.1–2.3) | 1.5 (0.9–2.9) | 0.714 |
| HbA1c,% | 6.0 ± 0.8 | 6.1 ± 1.3 | 6.1 ± 1.3 | 6.0 ± 1.1 | 0.3629 |
| Diabetes, n (%) | 49 (28.8) | 36 (21.2) | 33 (19.4) | 38 (22.4) | 0.182 |
| Hypertension, n (%) | 118 (69.4) | 109 (64.1) | 113 (66.5) | 121 (71.2) | 0.516 |
| Current Smoker, n (%) | 25 (14.7) | 15 (8.8) | 16 (9.4) | 18 (10.6) | 0.296 |
| Current Drinker, n (%) | 13 (7.6) | 16 (9.4) | 9 (5.3) | 13 (7.6) | 0.552 |
Data are expressed as mean ± SD for data with normal distribution, or median (25th, 75th percentiles) for data with skewed distribution, or number (percentage) for categorical data. Chi-square test was used to compare categorical variables. The difference of continuous variables was compared using One-Way ANOVA, and then Student-Newman-Keuls pairwise comparisons were performed if P <0.05. P values less than 0.05 are marked in bold. Note: (1) ※ Analysis was performed using log-transformed data. (2) a. Q1 compared with Q2 and Q3 (P = 0.002, <0.0001); Q4 compare with Q2 and Q3 (P = 0.0017, 0.003); b. Q4 compared with Q1, Q2 and Q3 (P = 0.03, 0.008, 0.073); c. Q2 compared with Q3 and Q4 (P = 0.027, 0.002); d. Q1 compared with Q2, Q3 and Q4 (P = 0.006, <0.0001, <0.0001); e. Q3 compared with Q1 and Q4 (P = 0.025, 0.016); f. Q4 VS Q2, P < 0.05; g. Q2 compared with Q3 and Q4 (P = 0.010, <0.0001); Q1 compared with Q4 (P = 0.015); h. Q2 compared with Q3 and Q4 (P = 0.016, 0.009); i. Q1 compared with Q2, Q3 and Q4 (P < 0.0001,0.013,0.036); j. Q1 compared with Q2, Q3 and Q4 (P = 0.006, <0.0001, <0.0001)