Plasma Fibulin-3 as a Potential Biomarker for Patients with Asbestos-Related Diseases in the Han Population

Table 2

Factors influencing plasma levels of fibulin-3 in univariate and multivariate linear regression models.

Predictor variables^∗	Subcategory	Univariate models			Multivariate model^#
		b	SE	value	b	SE	value
Age, y	—	<0.01	<0.01	0.97
Female versus male	—	0.03	0.03	0.30
Nonsmoker versus smoker	—	−0.03	0.05	0.59
Nondrinker versus drinker	—	0.01	0.06	0.89
Study groups	PP versus control group	0.13	0.04	<0.001	0.13	0.04	0.002
	AE versus control group	0.09	0.03	0.01	0.09	0.03	0.01
	Asbestosis versus control group	0.22	0.06	<0.001	0.22	0.06	<0.001
	MPM versus control group	0.70	0.08	<0.001	0.70	0.08	<0.001

The dependent variable was the natural logarithm form of fibulin-3; ^#estimated with the forward stepwise method; b: regression coefficient; y: years; PP: pleural plaque; MPM: malignant pleural mesothelioma; AE: asbestos-exposed subjects; SE: standard error.