Table 1.

Baseline Characteristics of Participants in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis by Physical Activity Quartile, 2000–2002^a

	Physical activity MET-min/wk Quartiles (range)				P for trendb
	Quartile 1 n = 1718 (0–105)	Quartile 2 n = 1674 (123–818)	Quartile 3 n = 1704 (825–2018)	Quartile 4 n = 1699 (2025–37,260)
Age, years	62 ± 0.3	62 ± 0.3	62 ± 0.3	62 ± 0.3	.81
Male, %	44	41	49	56	< .0001
Race/ethnicity, %
White	29	39	42	43	< .0001
Chinese	13	13	12	9
Black	28	26	27	29
Hispanic	29	22	19	18
Physical activity, MET-min/wk	8 ± 39	476 ± 39	1345 ± 39	4384 ± 39	< .0001
Systolic BP, mm Hg	128 ± 0.5	127 ± 0.5	126 ± 0.5	125 ± 0.5	.0007
Diastolic BP, mm Hg	72 ± 0.3	72 ± 0.3	72 ± 0.3	72 ± 0.3	.3
Hypertension, %	48	45	45	41	.001
BMI, kg/m2	29 ± 0.1	29 ± 0.1	28 ± 0.1	28 ± 0.1	< .0001
Obesity, %c	40	34	29	26	< .0001
Waist circumference, cm	101 ± 0.4	98 ± 0.4	97 ± 0.4	96 ± 0.4	< .0001
Central obesity, %d	61	58	52	46	< .0001
Fasting glucose, mg/dL	101 ± 0.7	97 ± 0.7	96 ± 0.7	96 ± 0.7	< .0001
Impaired fasting glucose, %	15	15	13	12	< .0001
Diabetes, %	16	13	11	11	< .0001
HOMA-IRe	1.52 ± 0.03	1.34 ± 0.02	1.21 ± 0.02	1.12 ± 0.02	< .0001
Serum insulin, umol/L	8 ± 0.1	7 ± 0.1	6 ± 0.1	6 ± 0.1	< .0001
Triglycerides, mg/dL	121 ± 2	117 ± 2	109 ± 1	107 ± 1	< .0001
Total cholesterol, mg/dL	195 ± 0.9	195 ± 0.9	193 ± 0.9	194 ± 0.9	.35
HDL-cholesterol, mg/dL	50 ± 0.4	51 ± 0.4	53 ± 0.4	53 ± 0.4	< .0001
Pack-years of smokingf	0 (18)	0 (14)	0 (14)	0 (15)	.004

Abbreviations: BMI, body mass index; HDL, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol; HOMA-IR, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance; MET, metabolic equivalent; BP, blood pressure.

^aData are mean (± standard error) unless otherwise indicated.

^bTests for trend were assessed using linear regression models for continuous characteristics and using logistic regression models for binary characteristics and polytomous regression models for discrete characteristics with more than 2 categories.

^cBMI ≥ 30.0 kg/m².

^dWaist circumference > 102 cm (men) and > 88 cm (women).

^eHomeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (glucose [mmol/L] × insulin [mU/L]/22.5).

^fMedian (interquartile ranges).