Table 3 Results of linear mixed-effects models: association between coronary artery calcification tertiles and serum biomarkers

Model 1: Crude

 Tertile 1 (reference)

–

–

 Average difference tertile 2

0.43 (0.02; 0.84); 0.042

0.40 (-0.16; 0.95); 0.157

 Interaction tertile 2 and time

 − 0.01 (− 0.03; 0.01); 0.392

 − 0.01 (− 0.04; 0.02); 0.366

 Average difference tertile 3

0.79 (0.40; 1.19); < 0.001*

0.83 (0.30; 1.37); 0.002*

 Interaction tertile 3 and time

 − 0.01 (− 0.03; 0.01); 0.233

 − 0.00 (− 0.03; 0.03); 0.917

Model 2: Model 1 adjusted for age, sex, and APACHE-II score

 Tertile 1 (reference)

–

–

 Average difference tertile 2

0.22 (− 0.14; 0.58); 0.233

0.27 (− 0.30; 0.84); 0.348

 Interaction tertile 2 and time

 − 0.01 (− 0.02; 0.01); 0.300

 − 0.01 (− 0.03; 0.02); 0.543

 Average difference tertile 3

0.37 (0.01; 0.74); 0.046*

0.39 (− 0.17; 0.95); 0.176

 Interaction tertile 3 and time

 − 0.01 (− 0.02; 0.01); 0.389

0.01 (− 0.01; 0.04); 0.376

Model 3: Model 2 adjusted for chronic lung disease and liver conditions

 Tertile 1 (reference)

–

–

 Average difference tertile 2

0.25 (− 0.14; 0.65); 0.206

0.31 (− 0.26; 0.88); 0.289

 Interaction tertile 2 and time

 − 0.01 (− 0.03; 0.01); 0.361

 − 0.01 (− 0.04; 0.02); 0.499

 Average difference tertile 3

0.44 (0.04; 0.83); 0.031*

0.43 (− 0.13; 1.00); 0.133

 Interaction tertile 3 and time

 − 0.01 (− 0.03; 0.01); 0.270

0.01 (− 0.02; 0.04); 0.437