Table 1. Clinical characteristics of the study cohorts.

	FHS N = 3,679	EGCUT N = 972	RS N = 604	InCHIANTI N = 597	KORA F4 N = 565	SHIP-TREND N = 600
Age (yr)	51 ± 12	36 ± 14	58 ± 8	71 ± 16	72 ± 5	46 ± 13
Sex, male (%)	42	49	46	46	51	43
Hypertension (%)	11	19	35	45	26	12
BMI (kg/m 2)	27.2 ± 5.3	24.8 ± 4.4	26.8 ± 4.1	27.0 ± 4.2	29.8± 4.6	26 ± 4.2
Systolic BP (mm Hg)	118 ± 15	122 ± 16	132 ± 20	132 ± 20	129± 21	120 ± 15
Diastolic BP (mm Hg)	74 ±9	76 ± 10	82 ± 11	78 ±10	73±11	75 ± 9