Table 1.

Socio-demographic Characteristics of REGARDS Participants Residing in Counties in the High and Low IHD or Stroke Mortality Tertiles.^a

Socio-demographic variables	ALL Counties		Low IHD Mortality Tertile Counties		High IHD Mortality Tertile Counties		ALL Counties		Low Stroke Mortality Tertile Counties		High Stroke Mortality Tertile Counties
	N=19,954		N=7,273		N=4,891		N=19,804		N=6,285		N=5,886
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
Mean age in years ± SD	64.6 ± 9.4		64.7 ± 9.5		64.7 ± 9.3				64.9 ± 9.4		64.2 ± 9.4
Age group
45–54	2636	13.2	962	13.2	594	12.2	2621	13.2	758	12.1	853	14.5
55–64	7703	38.6	2802	38.6	1946	39.8	7641	38.6	2482	39.5	2272	38.6
65–74	6342	31.8	2259	31.1	1567	32.0	6294	31.8	1976	31.4	1868	31.8
75–84	2917	14.6	1107	15.2	697	14.3	2897	14.6	946	15.1	793	13.5
85+	348	1.7	139	1.9	86	1.80	343	1.7	122	1.9	97	1.65
					p=.03						p<.001
Gender
Female	10905	54.6	3967	54.5	2639	54.0	10814	54.6	3320	52.8	3317	56.4
Male	9049	45.4	3306	45.5	2252	46.0	8990	45.4	2965	47.2	2569	43.7
					p=.39						p=.001
Race
Black	7167	35.9	2530	34.8	1454	29.7	7110	35.9	2565	40.8	2011	34.2
White	12787	64.1	4743	65.2	3437	70.3	12694	64.1	3720	59.2	3875	65.8
					p<.0001						p<.0001
Education
<High School	2520	12.6	829	11.4	700	14.3	2495	12.6	717	11.4	888	15.1
High School	5209	26.1	1734	23.9	1332	27.3	5148	26.0	1528	24.3	1672	28.4
Some college	5354	26.9	1936	26.6	1319	27.0	5325	26.9	1679	26.7	1603	27.3
≥College	6860	34.4	2770	38.1	1535	31.4	6825	34.5	2358	37.5	1719	29.2
					p<.0001						p<.0001
Annual income
<$25,000	5475	31.3	1892	29.6	1403	32.8	5430	31.3	1558	28.1	1798	35.0
$25,000–$50,000	6069	34.7	2131	33.3	1538	36.0	6023	34.7	1877	33.8	1814	35.3
>$50,000	5948	34.0	2374	37.1	1333	31.2	5916	34.1	2111	38.1	1527	29.7
					p<.0001						p<.0001
BMI
≤24.9 kg/m2	4962	25.1	1945	27.0	1240	25.5	4926	25.1	1567	25.1	1432	24.5
25–29.9 kg/m2	7300	36.9	2658	36.8	1771	36.5	7248	36.9	2386	38.2	2109	36.1
≥30 kg/m2	7547	38.1	2619	36.3	1844	38.0	7487	38.1	2286	36.6	2302	39.4
					p<.0001						p=.02
Current alcohol consumption
Yes	9930	49.8	3775	51.9	2287	46.8	9862	49.8	3430	54.6	2497	57.6
No	10024	50.2	3498	48.1	2604	53.2	9942	50.2	2855	45.4	3389	42.4
					p<.0001						p<.0001
Tobacco use
Current	2893	14.6	1015	14.0	724	14.9	2867	14.5	875	14.0	912	15.6
Never	9110	45.8	3372	46.6	2218	45.5	9044	45.8	2873	45.9	2716	46.3
Past	7878	39.6	2856	39.4	1932	39.6	7821	39.6	2515	40.2	2238	38.2
					p=.44						p=.02
Frequency of Exercise
None	6682	34.0	2378	33.1	1732	36.1	6624	33.9	2099	34.0	1988	34.3
1–3 times/week	7020	35.7	2592	36.1	1641	34.2	6968	35.8	2236	36.2	2052	35.4
4 or more times/week	5938	30.2	2206	30.7	1425	29.7	5859	30.3	1849	30.0	1759	30.3
					p=.01						p=.88
Medication adherence
Yes	12947	64.9	4698	64.6	3183	65.1	12838	64.8	3964	63.1	3949	67.1
No	7007	35.1	2575	35.4	1708	34.9	6966	35.2	2321	36.9	1937	32.9
					p=.81						p<.0001
Insurance
Yes	18617	93.4	6785	93.4	4558	93.2	18481	93.4	5888	93.7	5457	92.8
No	1320	6.6	479	6.6	331	6.8	1306	6.6	395	6.3	422	7.2
					p=.88						p=.1
HPSA
Yes	2531	12.7	808	11.1	840	17.2	2412	12.2	519	8.3	858	14.6
No	17423	87.3	6465	88.9	4051	82.8	17392	87.2	5766	91.7	5028	85.4
					p<.0001						p<.0001
Rurality of countyb
Urban	13023	65.3	4855	66.8	2896	59.2	12992	65.6	4835	76.9	3036	51.6
Rural	4453	22.3	1615	22.2	1240	25.4	4358	22.0	954	15.2	1792	30.5
Mixed	2478	12.4	803	11.0	755	15.4	2454	12.4	496	7.9	1058	17.9
					p<.0001						p<.0001

^aCounty level mortality tertiles derived from CDC Wonder data from 1999–2006; N = Number of participants in the country; Medication adherence assessed using the validated 4-item Morisky scale; Insurance defined as having or not having any type of insurance;

^bRurality of county based on criteria set by U.S. census bureau: Rural = ≤25% urban, Urban = ≥75% urban, Mixed = 25–75% urban; Total number of counties different for IHD and stroke mortality tertiles due to missing values for small counties.

BMI = Body Mass Index

HPSA = Health Professional Shortage Area

Figures in bold are significant.