Hazard ratios associated with level and within-visit variability of systolic blood pressure during follow-up with additional adjustment for proceeding to combination therapy as time-dependent variable.

<p>Level (SBP) and within-visit variability (WVV) were calculated from all blood pressure readings available from randomisation until the occurrence of an endpoint or until the end of follow-up in patients without an event. Hazard ratios express the risk associated with a 1-SD increase in the predictor variable and were stratified for centre and adjusted for randomisation group (all patients), sex, age, body mass index, heart rate, cholesterol, smoking and drinking, history of cardiovascular disease or diabetes, and combination therapy as time-dependent covariable. Model indicates which systolic index was entered into the models in addition to the studied predictor. SDs are approximate, because the number of blood pressure readings available for analysis differed slightly depending on the timing of endpoints. An ellipsis signifies that in addition to the studied predictor no additional systolic index was entered.</p><p>Significance of the estimates:</p><p>*<i>P</i>≤0.05;</p>†<p><i>P</i>≤0.01;</p>‡<p><i>P</i>≤0.001;</p>§<p>p<0.0001.