Continuous variables are expressed as means ± standard deviation or medians (interquartile range; IQR) depending on their distribution. Categorical variables are expressed as percentages. Continuous variables were compared using Student’s t-test or the Wilcoxon rank-sum test. Categorical variables were compared using the chi-squared test. Propensity scores were calculated, using age, sex, body mass index (BMI), and the presence of diabetes mellitus, dyslipidaemia, and hypertension as covariates. Patients in the two groups were matched through the greedy matching protocol with a fixed calliper width of 0.20.
Logistic regression analyses were used to estimate the relative risk of CAE and of excessive expansive CA remodelling, respectively. Model 1 was adjusted for variables showing values of p < 0.05 on univariate analyses (CAE: AAA and BMI, Excessive expansive CA remodelling: AAA, BMI, LDL-C, HDL-C, and higher high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP)). Model 2 was adjusted for the variables in model 1 plus age and current smoking. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. A higher hs-CRP was defined as hs-CRP > 0.1 mg/dL according to the optimal cut-off value of the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. A p value < 0.05 was considered significant. All data were analysed using JMP version 12.2 for Windows (SAS Institute, Cary, NC, USA).
Logistic regression analyses were used to estimate the relative risk of CAE and of excessive expansive CA remodelling, respectively. Model 1 was adjusted for variables showing values of p < 0.05 on univariate analyses (CAE: AAA and BMI, Excessive expansive CA remodelling: AAA, BMI, LDL-C, HDL-C, and higher high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP)). Model 2 was adjusted for the variables in model 1 plus age and current smoking. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. A higher hs-CRP was defined as hs-CRP > 0.1 mg/dL according to the optimal cut-off value of the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. A p value < 0.05 was considered significant. All data were analysed using JMP version 12.2 for Windows (SAS Institute, Cary, NC, USA).