Memory cell proportions remained significantly associated with CAC level in backward elimination models that included demographics, traditional CVD-related variables (BMI, systolic BP, use of BP lowering medication, smoking status, total-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, use of lipid lowering medication, and T2D status), and biomarkers of inflammation and infection (IL-6, CMV and H. pylori titers) as starting candidates (Table 4). This evidence concerns the gene IL6 and infection.