Figure 3.

Causal directed acyclic graph (cDAG) for the analysis of the mediation of the association of Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) with mortality by inflammatory markers. Exposure: ASCVD: CAD⁺AMI⁻, CAD⁺AMI⁺ and ATS were assessed in separate models. Mediator: Inflammatory markers: CRP, WBC and NL ratio were assessed in separate models Outcomes: All-cause and infection related mortality were assessed in separate models. Confounders: Age, gender, body mass index, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, cancer, chronic kidney disease (stage 3–5), asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, liver cirrhosis, transplant status, baseline sputum acid fast bacilli status, cavitary disease at baseline, metformin use, statin use, and calcium channel blocker use. ATS, pre-existing atherothrombotic stroke; CAD, pre-existing coronary artery disease; CAD⁺AMI⁻, Pre-existing coronary artery disease without prior acute myocardial infarction; CAD⁺AMI⁺, Pre-existing coronary artery disease with prior acute myocardial infarction. CRP: C-reactive protein; NL ratio: Neutrophil lymphocyte ratio; WBC: Total leukocyte count (× 10³/µL).