Association between high cystatin C levels and carotid atherosclerosis

Table 2 Subject characteristics associated with cystatin C levels

Variables	Median (min, max) or n (%)		P value
	Higher cystatin C (≥ 0.73) (n = 79)	Lower cystatin C (< 0.73) (n = 49)
Age (yr)	72 (46, 87)	61 (39, 80)	< 0.011
Sex (male)	67 (85)	31 (63)	< 0.012
Body-mass index (kg/m2)	24.9 (17.0, 38.0)	23.5 (15.1, 30.2)	< 0.011
Visceral fat area (cm2)	142.7 (48.3, 281.7)	103.7 (22.9, 249.2)	< 0.011
Lifestyle habits
Current smokers	14 (23)	9 (19)	0.882
Alcohol consumers	47 (59)	31 (63)	0.672
No exercise habits	28 (35)	10 (20)	0.072
Diagnosed hypertension	48 (61)	13 (27)	< 0.012
Diagnosed dyslipidemia	45 (57)	27 (55)	0.842
Diagnosed diabetes mellitus	24 (30)	5 (10)	< 0.012
Kidney function
Creatinine (mg/dL)	0.81 (0.45, 1.36)	0.62 (0.38, 0.97)	< 0.011
Estimated glomerular filtration rate (mL/min per 1.73 m2)	70.6 (38.9, 110.2)	88.7 (59.7, 122.6)	< 0.011
Carotid ultrasonography
Maximum carotid plaque thickness ≥ 2 mm	43 (54)	9 (18)	< 0.012

¹Student t test was used for estimating the significance;

²χ² test.