Skip to main content

Table 4 Potential confounding variables which may affect relationships between predictors and outcomes

From: Trunk-to-peripheral fat ratio predicts a subsequent blood pressure in normal-weight pubertal boys: a 3-year follow-up of the Kitakata Kids Health Study

 

Predictors at baseline

Outcomes at follow-up

Girls, N = 68

Boys, N = 87

Girls, N = 68

Boys, N = 87

TAR

TLR

TAR

TLR

SBP

DBP

SBP

DBP

r

p

r

p

r

p

r

p

r

p

r

p

r

p

r

p

Potential confounding factors at baseline

Age

0.17

ns

0.15

ns

0.34

0.01

0.30

< 0.01

0.39

< 0.01

0.23

ns

0.29

0.01

0.24

0.02

Height

0.22

ns

0.19

ns

0.35

< 0.01

0.29

< 0.01

0.18

ns

0.12

ns

0.42

< 0.01

0.32

< 0.01

Pubic hair appearance

0.08

ns

0.05

ns

0.50

< 0.01

0.46

< 0.01

0.24

0.04

0.20

ns

0.16

ns

0.26

0.02

Total energy intake

0.09

ns

0.05

ns

0.16

ns

0.15

ns

0.15

ns

0.22

ns

0.16

ns

0.07

ns

Salt intake

− 0.13

ns

− 0.17

ns

0.18

ns

0.19

ns

0.08

ns

0.09

ns

0.06

ns

0.00

ns

Exercise (e.g., jogging or sports)

0.06

ns

0.06

ns

0.08

ns

0.09

ns

0.08

ns

0.04

ns

− 0.01

ns

0.03

ns

Sedentary behavior (e.g., media use)

0.04

ns

0.10

ns

− 0.07

ns

− 0.06

ns

0.09

ns

− 0.03

ns

0.07

ns

0.15

ns

Whole body fat

0.42

< 0.01

0.47

< 0.01

− 0.12

ns

− 0.09

ns

0.10

ns

0.05

ns

0.25

0.02

0.01

ns

SBP

0.19

ns

0.13

ns

0.07

ns

0.05

ns

0.34

< 0.01

0.24

0.04

0.32

< 0.01

0.28

< 0.01

DBP

0.07

ns

0.05

ns

0.12

ns

0.10

ns

0.15

ns

0.18

ns

0.23

0.03

0.34

0.01

  1. N number, TAR trunk-to-appendicular fat ratio, TLR trunk-to-leg fat ratio, SBP systolic blood pressure, DBP diastolic blood pressure, ns not significant
  2. TAR was calculated as trunk fat divided by appendicular fat. TLR was calculated as trunk fat divided by leg fat. Pearson's correlation coefficient was used to evaluate relationships. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant