Table 2. Distribution of T2D risk factors according to tertiles of total WBC count at baseline, EPIC-Norfolk Study.
| Total WBC tertiles | 1 (n = 5,477) | 2 (n = 5,120) | 3 (n = 4,953) | P for trend |
| Tertile range, * 10(9)/L | 1–5.8 | 5.8–7.0 | 7.1–40.5 | |
| Sociodemographic variables | ||||
| Age, y | 57.6±9.3 | 58.1±9.3 | 58.0±9.5 | 0.01 |
| Sex, n (% female) | 3,137 (57.3) | 2,778 (54.3) | 2,677 (54.1) | <0.001 |
| Education level, n (%) | 0.004* | |||
| ‘A’ level† and above | 3,045 (55.6) | 2,867 (56.0) | 2,622 (52.9) | |
| Below ‘A’ level† | 2,432 (44.4) | 2,253 (44.0) | 2,331 (47.06) | |
| Anthropometric measures | ||||
| BMI, Kg/m2 | 25.8±3.6 | 26.3±3.8 | 26.5±3.8 | <0.001* |
| Waist circumference, cm | 86.3±11.9 | 88.2±12.2 | 89.2±12.8 | <0.001* |
| Health related behaviours | ||||
| Physical activity level, n (%) | <0.001* | |||
| Active | 1,107 (20.2) | 953(18.6)) | 856 (17.3) | |
| Moderately active | 1,294 (23.6) | 1,157(22.6) | 1,084(21.9) | |
| Moderately inactive | 1,566(28.6) | 1,501 (29.3) | 1,346 (27.2) | |
| Inactive | 1,510 (27.6) | 1,509 (29.5) | 1,667 (33.7) | |
| Smoking status, n(%) | <0.001* | |||
| Never | 2,961 (54.1) | 2,417 (47.2) | 1,933(39.0) | |
| Former | 2,244 (41.0) | 2,186 (42.7) | 1,939 (39.2) | |
| Current | 272 (5.0) | 517 (10.1) | 1081 (21.8) | |
| Medical history | ||||
| Family history of diabetes present, n (%) | 682(12.5) | 676 (13.2) | 644 (13.0) | 0.32* |
1
Data are means ± standard deviation. P values are derived using the Kruskal-Wallis test for continuous variables and the chi-squared test for categorical variables.
†
‘A’ level = Advanced Level General Certificate of Education, ‘O’ level = Ordinary Level General Certificate of Education.
*age and sex adjusted.