Figure 2. Association of Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP) With Vascular Mortality by Age and History of Previously Diagnosed Diabetes.

Analyses excluded participants with prior chronic diseases (ie, ischemic heart disease, stroke, chronic kidney disease, cirrhosis, cancer, or emphysema) apart from diabetes. Within each age-at-risk group, the mortality rate ratio (RR) estimates in those with and without previously diagnosed diabetes were stratified by age-at-risk (in 5-year ranges) and adjusted for sex, district of residence, highest education level attained, smoking status, alcohol intake, leisure-time physical activity, and measures of anthropometry. The overall RR estimates are then also adjusted for diabetes. A test for trend in the log RR across the 3 age-at-risk categories shown yielded a χ² statistic of 21.5 (P < .001). Trends described in the heading of the point estimate line indicate lower and higher mortality associated with lower SBP.