Table 1 Characteristics of individuals across quartiles (Q1-Q4) of growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15)

GDF-15 (AU)

8.09 ± 0.26

8.56 ± 0.11

8.90 ± 0.14

9.47 ± 0.38

< 0.0001

Age (years)

54.6 ± 5.60

56.6 ± 5.70

58.6 ± 5.50

60.1 ± 5.60

< 0.0001

Sex (male, %)

0.99

Waist circumference (cm)

81.6 ± 11.6

82.3 ± 12.3

83.5 ± 12.9

85.3 ± 13.5

< 0.001

Fasting glucose (mmol/L) ^b

4.80 (4.60-5.20)

4.90 (4.60-5.20)

4.90 (4.60-5.30)

5.00 (4.70-5.40)

< 0.0001

Systolic blood pressure (mmHg)

136.1 ± 16.7

140 ± 18.9

142.4 ± 19.3

144.7 ± 19.3

< 0.0001

Diastolic blood pressure (mmHg)

85.6 ± 8.60

86.6 ± 9.40

86.9 ± 9.50

87.5 ± 9.60

< 0.001

Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (mmol/L)

4.09 ± 0.94

4.05 ± 0.94

4.25 ± 0.99

4.24 ± 1.03

< 0.001

C-reactive protein (mg/L) ^b

1.00 (0.50-1.90)

1.10 (0.60-2.30)

1.40 (0.70-2.90)

1.90 (1.00-4.20)

< 0.0001

eGFR (mL/min/1.73 m²)

94.3 ± 12.5

90.5 ± 12.2

88.1 ± 12.5

83.8 ± 14.5

< 0.0001

N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (AU)

− 0.31 ± 0.92

−0.06 ± 0.94

0.09 ± 0.97

0.26 ± 1.03

< 0.0001

High alcohol consumption (%)

0.31

Smoking n (%)

Never

< 0.0001

Former

< 0.0001

Current

< 0.0001

Anti-hypertensive medication (%)

< 0.0001

Diabetes (%)

< 0.0001

Cardiovascular disease (%)

< 0.0001