Characteristics | hsCRP (mg/L) | P value | |||
Quartile 1 (0.09–0.70) n=3575 | Quartile 2 (0.70–1.39) n=3542 | Quartile 3 (1.39–3.02) n=3575 | Quartile 4 (3.02–10.0) n=3541 | ||
Sex | 0.000* | ||||
Female, % | 49.8 | 50.5 | 53.5 | 62.4 | |
Male, % | 50.2 | 49.5 | 46.5 | 37.6 | |
Age (years), mean (SD) | 50.0 (44.0–57.0) | 51.0 (45.0–58.0) | 52.0 (46.0–59.0) | 52.0 (46.0–58.0) | 0.000† |
BMI (kg/m2), mean (SD) | 25.9 (23.6–28.5) | 27.1 (24.6–30.0) | 28.7 (25.5–32.1) | 0.000† | |
Self-rated race/ethnicity, % | 0.000* | ||||
White | 53.9 | 53.9 | 53.1 | 48.9 | |
Mixed | 27.8 | 27.8 | 28.3 | 29.3 | |
Black | 14.1 | 14.1 | 15.8 | 19.4 | |
Asian | 2.9 | 2.9 | 1.8 | 1.4 | |
Indigenous | 1.3 | 1.3 | 1.1 | 1 | |
Level of education, % | 0.000* | ||||
University degree | 59.6 | 55.3 | 50.8 | 46 | |
Complete high school | 30.9 | 33.4 | 35.7 | 38.2 | |
Complete elementary school | 5.3 | 6 | 7.1 | 8.3 | |
Incomplete elementary school | 4.1 | 5.3 | 6.4 | 7.5 | |
Smoking, % | 0.000* | ||||
Never | 62.4 | 57.9 | 54.8 | 53.7 | |
Former | 27.9 | 30 | 31.5 | 29.9 | |
Current | 9.6 | 12.1 | 13.7 | 16.5 | |
Physical activity‡, % | 0.000* | ||||
Low | 70.3 | 75.6 | 78.5 | 81.8 | |
Moderate | 19.2 | 17.6 | 15.1 | 13.3 | |
High | 10.5 | 6.8 | 6.4 | 4.9 | |
Alcohol consumption§, % | 0.000* | ||||
None | 50.7 | 50.1 | 50.7 | 55.2 | |
Moderate | 42.7 | 42.7 | 41.4 | 37 | |
Excessive | 6.6 | 7.2 | 7.9 | 7.8 | |
Daily consumption of fruits, % | 0.141* | ||||
Yes | 58.4 | 57.9 | 56.4 | 56.1 | |
No | 41.6 | 42.1 | 43.6 | 43.9 | |
Daily consumption of vegetables, % | 0.001* | ||||
Yes | 52.8 | 53.7 | 51.9 | 49.1 | |
No | 47.2 | 46.3 | 48.1 | 50.9 | |
Diabetes¶, % | 0.000* | ||||
Yes | 10.6 | 13.2 | 18.3 | 24.7 | |
No | 89.4 | 86.8 | 81.7 | 75.3 | |
Systolic pressure (mm Hg), mean (SD) | 116 (106–126) | 118 (109–130) | 120 (110–132) | 122 (111–133) | 0.000* |
CVD**, % | 0.017* | ||||
Yes | 4.1 | 4.3 | 4.9 | 5.5 | |
No | 95.9 | 95.7 | 95.1 | 94.5 | |
Depression, % | 0.001* | ||||
Yes | 3.1 | 4.1 | 4.8 | 4.8 | |
No | 96.9 | 95.9 | 95.2 | 95.2 | |
History of cancer††, % | 0.612* | ||||
Yes | 4.1 | 4.4 | 4.6 | 4.7 | |
No | 95.9 | 95.6 | 95.4 | 95.3 | |
History of COPD‡‡, % | 0.000* | ||||
Yes | 1.3 | 1.7 | 2.1 | 2.8 | |
No | 98.7 | 98.3 | 97.9 | 97.2 |
Some covariates do not total 100% due to loss of information.
*P value for Pearson’s χ2.
†P value for analysis of variance.
‡Physical activity based on the International Physical Activity Questionnaire.
§Excessive drinker (men ≥210 g alcohol/week; women ≥140 g alcohol/week).
¶Diabetes mellitus: defined according to the American Diabetes Association criteria or by self-report of previous diagnosis of diabetes mellitus and/or use of insulin or oral hypoglycaemic agents; average blood pressure from three measurements.
**CVD: defined based on the report of coronary revascularisation, or of a medical diagnosis of myocardial infarct and/or stroke and/or heart failure.
††Cancer: defined by self-report.
‡‡COPD: defined by self-report.
BMI, body mass index; COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; CVD, cardiovascular disease; hsCRP, high-sensitivity C reactive protein.