Table 1 Subjects' characteristics.
| Frequency (%) | Men (n = 567) | Women (n = 589) |
|---|---|---|
| Ischaemic heart disease | 66 (11.6) | 54 (9.2) |
| Rheumatoid factor positive | 92 (16.2) | 73 (12.4) |
| ANA positive (Inova or Axis‐Shield, or both) | 61 (10.8) | 72 (12.2) |
| ACA positive (top octile of IgG or IgM) | 137 (24.2) | 116 (19.7) |
| Ex‐smoker | 297 (52.4) | 168 (28.5) |
| Current smoker | 94 (16.6) | 61 (10.4) |
| Family history of myocardial infarction* | 236 (41.6) | 293 (49.7) |
| Previously or newly diagnosed diabetes | 39 (6.9) | 43 (7.3) |
| High blood pressure (⩾160/100 mm Hg or medication) | 193 (34.0) | 228 (38.7) |
| BMI (kg/m2), mean (SD) | 26.9 (3.7) | 27.3 (4.9) |
| Total fasting cholesterol (mmol/l), mean (SD) | 5.9 (1.0) | 6.6 (1.2) |
| Ratio of total to HDL cholesterol† | 4.5 (1.3) | 3.9 (1.3) |
ACA, anticardiolipin antibodies; ANA, antinuclear antibodies; BMI, body mass index; HDL, high‐density lipoprotein.
*Premature myocardial infarction in a first‐degree relative (before age 55 years in men, before age 65 years in women).
†Geometric mean and SD.