Table 4.
Baseline characteristics of the VFQ population.
| Baseline Characteristic | Aspirin |
Omega-3 FAs |
Overall (n = 8846) | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Active (n = 4447) | Placebo (n = 4399) | Active (n = 4417) | Placebo (n = 4429) | |||||||
| Age at randomization (years) | ||||||||||
| Mean (SD) | 62.4 ± 8.3 | 62.5 ± 8.3 | 62.4 ± 8.3 | 62.5 ± 8.3 | 62.5 ± 8.3 | |||||
| Sex | ||||||||||
| Male | 2785 | (63%) | 2744 | (62%) | 2758 | (62%) | 2771 | (63%) | 5529 | (63%) |
| Female | 1662 | (37%) | 1655 | (38%) | 1659 | (38%) | 1658 | (37%) | 3317 | (38%) |
| Type of diabetesa | ||||||||||
| Type 1 | 270 | (6%) | 289 | (7%) | 288 | (7%) | 271 | (6%) | 559 | (6%) |
| Type 2 | 4177 | (94%) | 4110 | (93%) | 4129 | (94%) | 4158 | (94%) | 8287 | (94%) |
| Duration of diabetes (years) | ||||||||||
| Median (IQR) | 7 (3–12) | 6 (3–12) | 7 (3–12) | 6 (3–12) | 7(3–12) | |||||
| Systolic blood pressure (mmHg)b | ||||||||||
| Mean (SD) | 135.7 ± 15.1 | 135.9 ± 14.9 | 135.9 ± 15.1 | 135.7 ± 14.9 | 135.8 ± 14.9 | |||||
| Diastolic blood pressure (mmHg)b | ||||||||||
| Mean (SD) | 77.3 ± 9.3 | 77.6 ± 9.1 | 77.5 ± 9.2 | 77.4 ± 9.1 | 77.4 ± 9.2 | |||||
| Body mass index (kg/m2)c | ||||||||||
| Mean (SD) | 30.8 ± 6.3 | 30.4 ± 5.9 | 30.6 ± 6.1 | 30.6 ± 6.1 | 30.6 ± 6.1 | |||||
| HbA1c | ||||||||||
| DCCT (%) mean (SD) | 7.1 ± 1.1 | 7.1 ± 1.1 | 7.1 ± 1.1 | 7.1 ± 1.1 | 7.1 ± 1.1 | |||||
| IFCC (mmol/mol) mean (SD) | 53.9 ± 12.1 | 54.2 ± 12.2 | 54.2 ± 12.1 | 53.9 ± 12.3 | 54.0 ± 12.2 | |||||
| Cigarette smoking | ||||||||||
| Current | 264 | (6%) | 291 | (7%) | 278 | (6%) | 277 | (6%) | 555 | (6%) |
| Former | 1995 | (45%) | 1952 | (44%) | 1959 | (44%) | 1988 | (45%) | 3947 | (45%) |
| Never | 2139 | (48%) | 2104 | (48%) | 2131 | (48%) | 2112 | (48%) | 4243 | (48%) |
| Unknown | 49 | (1%) | 52 | (1%) | 49 | (1%) | 52 | (1%) | 101 | (1%) |
| CKD-EPI estimated GFR (ml/min/1.73m [2])d | ||||||||||
| Mean (SD) | 87.9 ± 19.6 | 87.7 ± 19.9 | 87.7 ± 20.2 | 87.8 ± 19.3 | 87.8 ± 19.8 | |||||
| Urinary albumin:creatinine ratio (mg/mmol)e | ||||||||||
| Median (IQR) | 0.5 (0.0–1.2) | 0.5 (0.0–1.1) | 0.5 (0.0–1.2) | 0.5 (0.0–1.1) | 0.5 (0.0–1.1) | |||||
| Ethnic origin | ||||||||||
| White | 4309 | (97%) | 4255 | (97%) | 4279 | (97%) | 4285 | (97%) | 8564 | (97%) |
DCCT = Diabetes Control and Complications Trial; FAs = Fatty acids; GFR = Glomerular Filtration Rate; HDL=High-density lipoprotein; IFCC =International Federation of Clinical Chemistry; IQR = Interquartile range; SD = Standard Deviation.
Figures presented are counts with percentages unless otherwise stated. Percentages may not total 100 because of rounding.
The presence of type 2 diabetes was based on a broad clinical definition involving the participant's age at the diagnosis of diabetes, the use of insulin within one year after diagnosis, and the body-mass index.
From blood and urine consent forms, generally before randomization.
The body-mass index (the weight in kilograms divided by the square of the height in metres) was based on values for height and weight the participants reported on their randomization questionnaires.
Calculated from blood cystatin c concentration using the CKD-EPI formula [56].
There was an analysis rule in ASCEND which stated that those with a below detectable threshold albumin component of their urinary albumin creatinine ratio would be recorded as zero. This applied to just over 25% of participants in the active group of the aspirin arm, and to just under 25% of participants in the placebo group. Hence the interquartile range included zero.