Fig. 2

The causes of death by aortic arch calcification grade. CVD was the most common cause of death among all AAC grades. For CVD death, proportion of stroke increased in higher AAC grades. Non-CVD death accounted for about half of total death. The major causes of non-CVD death were malignancy, infection, and malnutrition. Death of infection and malnutrition increased markedly in AAC grade 3. AAC: aortic arch calcification, CVD: cardiovascular disease