Relation between numbers of risk factors and differences in CIMT by race-ethnic group.

<p><b>Each number of risk factors was compared to individuals without any risk factor (reference group). CIMT, mean common carotid intima media thickness.</b><a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0173393#pone.0173393.g003" target="_blank">Fig 3</a> presents the main findings of the overall analysis on risk factor clusters and CIMT. Within each risk factor cluster, there were graded relations with common CIMT. Within those with two risk factors, the cluster blood pressure-smoking had the highest CIMT (mean difference of 0.077 mm with those without risk factors) and the cluster with overweight- total cholesterol the least thickening (mean difference of 0.039 mm with those without risk factors), a difference reaching statistical significance with the cluster since the 95 confidence limits did not overlap. For people within the three risk factor cluster, elevated blood pressure, overweight and smoking had the highest common CIMT (0.084 mm). The pattern of the relationship between risk factor clusters and common CIMT were similar between sexes and race-ethnic groups, although some variation was observed between race-ethnic groups but was not significant due to limited minority samples sizes (<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0173393#pone.0173393.s001" target="_blank">S1</a> and <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0173393#pone.0173393.s002" target="_blank">S2</a> Figs). The interaction terms were not statistically significant.