\protectTelomeredynamics and
survival
Individuals with more negative ∆RTL values – indicating greater
telomere shortening – had a greater subsequent risk of mortality
(relative to individuals with no change in telomere length) while
individuals with more positive ∆RTL values – indicating greater
telomere lengthening – had a reduced risk of mortality (Fig. 4 & 5,
Table 2). The quadratic function of ∆RTL was non-significant; thus, the
effect of ∆RTL on mortality risk was constant throughout the range of
∆RTL. The association between mortality risk and ∆RTL was not dependent
on the sex or age of these adult individuals (interaction terms
reentered into final model; Table 2). As expected, older individuals had
an increased mortality risk. Visual inspection of Schoenfield residuals
showed no violation of the assumption of non-proportional hazards,
meaning the effects of predictor variables on mortality risk were
constant throughout the remaining lifespan.