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. 2011 Jun 27;174(5):528–536. doi: 10.1093/aje/kwr120

Table 1.

Characteristics of Participants by Sex, Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis, 2000–2002

Women (n = 3,265)
 Men (n = 2,970)
 P for Difference
% Mean (SD) % Mean (SD)
Age, years 61.9 (10.2) 62.1 (10.2) 0.46
Race/ethnicity 0.23a
    White 38 39
    Chinese 12 12
    Black 28 26
    Hispanic 22 23
Height, cm 159.9 (7.1) 173.5 (7.6) <0.0001
Heart rate, beats/minute 65.1 (9.9) 62.2 (10.4) <0.0001
Hypertensionb 46.4 42.9 0.005
Blood pressure, mm Hg
    Systolic pressure 126.8 (23.2) 126.0 (19.2) 0.14
    Diastolic pressure 69.1 (10.2) 75.1 (9.4) <0.0001
Use of antihypertensive medication 35 31 <0.0001
Body mass indexc 28.7 (6.2) 27.8 (4.4) <0.0001
Cigarette smoking
    Ever smoker 40 59 <0.0001
    Current smoker 12 14 0.003
Cholesterol, mg/dL
    Total cholesterol 199.6 (35.5) 188.2 (34.9) <0.0001
    High density lipoprotein cholesterol 56.1 (15.1) 45.1 (11.7) <0.0001
Triglycerides, mg/dL 128.8 (78.6) 135.3 (95.5) 0.003
Use of cholesterol-lowering medication 17 15 0.17
Diabetes mellitusd 11 14 0.002
High-sensitivity C-reactive protein, mg/L 4.5 (6.0) 2.8 (5.4) <0.0001
LAE, mL/mm Hg × 10 11.8 (5.1) 15.1 (5.7) <0.0001
SAE, mL/mm Hg × 100 3.8 (2.3) 5.2 (3.1) <0.0001
SVR, dyne × seconds/cm5 1,684 (435) 1,608 (344) <0.0001
LAE × SVR, seconds 1.40 (0.54) 1.75 (0.57) <0.0001
SAE × SVR, seconds × 10 0.44 (0.22) 0.58 (0.29) <0.0001

Abbreviations: LAE, large artery elasticity; SAE, small artery elasticity; SD, standard deviation; SVR, systemic vascular resistance.

a

The P value for race/ethnicity tested for any difference in this variable between men and women.

b

Hypertension was defined as systolic blood pressure ≥140 mm Hg, diastolic blood pressure ≥90 mm Hg, or current use of antihypertensive medication.

c

Weight (kg)/height (m)2.

d

Diabetes was defined as a fasting plasma glucose level ≥126 mg/dL (≥7 mmol/L) or a history of medical treatment for diabetes.