Table 2

Baseline covariates by hsCRP quartiles

CharacteristicshsCRP (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
Sex0.000*
 Female, %49.850.553.562.4
 Male, %50.249.546.537.6
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*
 White53.953.953.148.9
 Mixed27.827.828.329.3
 Black14.114.115.819.4
 Asian2.92.91.81.4
 Indigenous1.31.31.11
Level of education, %0.000*
 University degree59.655.350.846
 Complete high school30.933.435.738.2
 Complete elementary school5.367.18.3
 Incomplete elementary school4.15.36.47.5
Smoking, %0.000*
 Never62.457.954.853.7
 Former27.93031.529.9
 Current9.612.113.716.5
Physical activity‡, %0.000*
 Low70.375.678.581.8
 Moderate19.217.615.113.3
 High10.56.86.44.9
Alcohol consumption§, %0.000*
 None50.750.150.755.2
 Moderate42.742.741.437
 Excessive6.67.27.97.8
Daily consumption of fruits, %0.141*
 Yes58.457.956.456.1
 No41.642.143.643.9
Daily consumption of vegetables, %0.001*
 Yes52.853.751.949.1
 No47.246.348.150.9
Diabetes¶, %0.000*
 Yes10.613.218.324.7
 No89.486.881.775.3
Systolic pressure (mm Hg), mean (SD)116
(106–126)
118
(109–130)
120
(110–132)
122
(111–133)
0.000*
CVD**, %0.017*
 Yes4.14.34.95.5
 No95.995.795.194.5
Depression, %0.001*
 Yes3.14.14.84.8
 No96.995.995.295.2
History of cancer††, %0.612*
 Yes4.14.44.64.7
 No95.995.695.495.3
History of COPD‡‡, %0.000*
 Yes1.31.72.12.8
 No98.798.397.997.2
  • 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.