Figure 1. Association of Overall and Cause-Specific Mortality With Leukocyte Telomere Shortening Adjusted for Age, Sex, Body Mass Index (BMI), and Ethnicity.

All major International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) categories, as well as selected cause-specific mortalities, were analyzed. Hazard ratios (HRs) per ICD-10 codes were generated from competing risk regression models, accounting for the risk of death through other causes; HRs (95% CI) per SD decrease of telomere length are shown. COPD indicates chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. BMI was calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared.