Table 2 Categorical or continuous WHtR and mortality by Cox proportional hazards model

All-cause mortality

  < 0.50

reference

reference

reference

 0.50–0.59

1.745 (1.742, 1.749)

0.772 (0.770, 0.774)

1.004 (1.001, 1.006)

 0.60–0.69

2.645 (2.639, 2.651)

0.840 (0.839, 0.842)

1.123 (1.120, 1.127)

 0.70–0.79

3.356 (3.348, 3.365)

1.190 (1.187, 1.193)

1.591 (1.584, 1.598)

  ≥ 0.80

3.429 (3.418, 3.441)

1.666 (1.660, 1.671)

2.214 (2.200, 2.228)

 P for trend

0.007

 Per-0.1 increase

1.410 (1.409, 1.411)

1.175 (1.175, 1.176)

1.368 (1.366, 1.371)

 Per-SD increase

1.410 (1.410, 1.411)

1.175 (1.175, 1.176)

1.369 (1.366, 1.371)

Cardiovascular mortality

  < 0.50

reference

reference

reference

 0.50–0.59

1.225 (1.218, 1.232)

1.501 (1.492, 1.510)

1.534 (1.524, 1.544)

 0.60–0.69

1.541 (1.533, 1.550)

2.015 (2.001, 2.030)

2.045 (2.030, 2.060)

 0.70–0.79

2.790 (2.773, 2.807)

3.470 (3.439, 3.501)

3.518 (3.486, 3.550)

  ≥ 0.80

3.082 (3.059, 3.106)

4.106 (4.054, 4.159)

3.590 (3.545, 3.635)

 P for trend

 < 0.001

 Per-0.1 increase

1.594 (1.592, 1.595)

1.403 (1.401, 1.405)

1.437 (1.432, 1.442)

 Per-SD increase

1.594 (1.593, 1.596)

1.403 (1.401, 1.405)

1.437 (1.432, 1.443)

Cancer mortality

  < 0.50

reference

reference

reference

 0.50–0.59

0.756 (0.753, 0.759)

0.931 (0.928, 0.935)

0.960 (0.957, 0.964)

 0.60–0.69

0.720 (0.717, 0.723)

0.878 (0.875, 0.882)

0.932 (0.929, 0.936)

 0.70–0.79

0.773 (0.769, 0.776)

0.887 (0.884, 0.890)

0.972 (0.967, 0.977)

  ≥ 0.80

0.874 (0.868, 0.881)

0.916 (0.909, 0.923)

0.997 (0.989, 1.005)

 P for trend

0.130

 Per-0.1 increase

1.275 (1.273, 1.276)

1.012 (1.010, 1.013)

0.998 (0.996, 1.001)

 Per-SD increase

1.275 (1.273, 1.277)

1.012 (1.010, 1.013)

0.998 (0.995, 1.001)

Other-cause mortality

  < 0.50

reference

reference

reference

 0.50–0.59

1.413 (1.409, 1.417)

0.690 (0.688, 0.692)

1.038 (1.034, 1.042)

 0.60–0.69

2.059 (2.053, 2.066)

0.750 (0.748, 0.753)

1.225 (1.219, 1.230)

 0.70–0.79

2.645 (2.636, 2.654)

1.049 (1.045, 1.052)

1.903 (1.891, 1.915)

  ≥ 0.80

3.651 (3.636, 3.667)

1.858 (1.850, 1.866)

3.835 (3.801, 3.869)

 P for trend

 < 0.001

 Per-0.1 increase

1.389 (1.388, 1.391)

1.171 (1.170, 1.172)

1.476 (1.472, 1.480)

 Per-SD increase

1.390 (1.389, 1.391)

1.171 (1.170, 1.172)

1.477 (1.472, 1.482)