To evaluate the modification effects of subgroups on the association between total cholesterol and mortality, we conducted the following subgroup analyses: age (< 65 or > = 65 years old), sex (male or female), diabetes mellitus (with or without), prior cardiovascular disease (with or without), hypertension (with or without), malnutrition (albumin < 36.0 or > = 36.0 g/L). Here, ALB is linked to diabetes mellitus.