Table 3.

Relative change in serum LDL-cholesterol (mmol/l) between the baseline (1991–3) and follow-up (2003–4) screening as a function of the use of lipid-lowering drugs, healthy diet and physical activity (N=4469)

	n	Mean relative change in LDL-cholesterol (mmol/l) and p value for difference
		Model 1*		Model 2†		Model 3‡
Start of lipid-lowering drugs
None	3954	0	Reference	0	Reference	0	Reference
Baseline	34	−1.09	<0.001	−1.09	<0.001	−1.14	<0.001
During follow-up	481	−1.81	<0.001	−1.77	<0.001	−1.77	<0.001
Change in AHEI score
Increase (≥1 SD)	717	−0.14	<0.001	−0.14	<0.001	−0.07	0.03
Stable (−1≤ SD <1)	3071	0	Reference	0	Reference	0	Reference
Decrease (<−1 SD)	681	0.10	0.02	0.10	0.02	0.12	<0.001
Change in physical activity
Increase (≥1 SD)	601	−0.11	0.007	−0.10	0.02	−0.10	0.005
Stable (−1≤ SD <1)	3312	0	Reference	0	Reference	0	Reference
Decrease (<−1 SD)	556	0.09	0.04	0.09	0.03	0.10	0.004

^*Model 1: Adjusted for sex, age at baseline, ethnicity and duration of follow-up.

^†Model 2: As model 1 and additionally adjusted for education level, BMI at baseline and long-standing illness at baseline.

^‡Model 3: As model 2 with predictors mutually adjusted.

AHEI, alternate healthy eating index; BMI, body mass index; LDL, low-density lipoprotein.