Fig. 2.

Plots of incidence rates of metabolic syndrome in the non-smoker (subjects who had never smoked and did not smoke during the observation period), continuous smoker (subjects who continued smoking during the observation period), and smoking cessation (subjects who ceased smoking during the observation period) groups. Data obtained at first visit were considered as baseline data in the non-smoker and continuous smoker groups and data obtained at the last health checkup as a smoker (data collected immediately prior to smoking cessation) were considered as baseline data in the smoking cessation group.

P < 0.001 by log-rank test.