Table 2 Increase in plaque number, plaque volume and intima media thickness for all patients included and for different subgroups. Tests for heterogeneity were applied to examine whether increase during follow-up was identical for two alternative subgroups

5.7

2.4

p = 0.002

249

77

p = 0.26

1.17

0.19

p = 0.002

Prescribed dose < 70 Gy

yes

6.8

2.3

p = 0.06

308

−16

p > 0.5

1.23

0.16

p = 0.5

no

4.7

2.4

p = 0.06

198

157

p = 0.13

1.15

0.20

p = 0.008

p > 0.5

p = 0.46

p > 0.5

Chemotherapy

yes

2.7

1.5

p = 0.25

108

81

p = 0.13

1.18

0.20

p = 0.02

no

8.3

3.1

p = 0.02

370

73

p > 0.5

1.14

0.16

p = 0.25

p = 0.21

p = 0.41

p > 0.5

Cardiovascular disease

yes

13.7

5.0

p = 0.25

709

194

p > 0.5

1.27

0.14

p = 0.5

no

3.3

1.6

p = 0.02

111

47

p = 0.19

1.14

0.20

p = 0.008

p = 0.20

p > 0.5

p > 0.5

Hypertension

yes

8.3

3.2

p = 0.25

466

−9

p > 0.5

1.26

0.10

p = 0.06

no

4.9

2.2

p = 0.02

184

103

p = 0.19

1.07

0.27

p = 0.06

p = 0.27

p > 0.5

p = 0.03

Diabetes mellitus

yes

8.0

4.3

p = 0.5

392

−49

p > 0.5

1.31

0.06

p = 0.25

no

5.3

2.0

p = 0.008

223

100

p = 0.13

1.11

0.24

p = 0.02

p = 0.10

p > 0.5

p = 0.03

>  5 plaques before RT

yes

12.6

3.9

p = 0.06

633

116

p > 0.5

no

1.4

1.4

p = 0.06

9

52

p = 0.13

p = 0.14

p > 0.5

IMT > 1.2 mm before RT

yes

1.28

0.18

p = 0.03

no

0.99

0.21

p = 0.13

p > 0.5