Table 2.

Percent differences in relative telomere length by select characteristics and race

	White n = 332				African American n = 227				p interaction^b

	N	% Difference ^a	95% CI		N	% Difference ^a	95% CI
Age (years)									0.56
per 1-year increase		−0.08	−0.17	0.02		−0.10	−0.20	0.01
<48	99	Referent			83	Referent
48–64	106	0.47	−3.50	4.60	78	1.08	−2.76	5.11
>64	127	−3.92	−7.56	−0.14	66	−3.64	−7.45	0.32
p for trend	0.03				0.08

Sex									0.004
Male	100	Referent			68	Referent
Female	232	−2.22	−5.53	1.20	159	5.26	1.65	9.01

Body mass index (kg/m²)									0.29
<25	90	Referent			51	Referent
25–29.9	114	−1.67	−5.87	2.72	56	1.76	−2.41	6.11
≥30	128	−0.82	−4.79	3.30	120	−1.29	−5.90	3.54
p for trend	0.66				0.28

Years of education									0.65
<12	109	Referent			66	Referent
12	131	3.06	−0.75	7.01	98	1.66	−2.39	5.87
>12	92	3.39	−0.80	7.75	63	4.68	0.12	9.45
p for trend	0.10				0.04

Smoking									0.54
Never	125	Referent			109	Referent
Former	99	−0.08	−3.93	3.93	39	−4.42	−8.80	−0.16
Current	108	−3.86	−7.51	−0.06	79	−1.64	−5.26	2.11

Cancer									0.56
No	268	Referent			205	Referent
Yes	64	−1.05	−5.10	3.18	22	1.08	−4.54	7.03

Diabetes									0.10
No	272	Referent			159	Referent
Yes	60	−1.25	−5.36	3.03	67	3.77	0.01	7.68

		All participants
Race
White	332	Referent
African American	227	1.71	−0.67	4.15

Percent difference estimates were calculated using multiple linear regression and are adjusted for age in years, age squared, and plate. Age estimates are only adjusted for plate

p for interaction was generated via the inclusion of an interaction term that included race and the variable of interest in linear regression models