TABLE 1.
Characteristics of Study Subjects (NHANES III Participants Aged 12–39 Years in 1988–1994)
| Characteristics of Study Subjects | Mean Value, or % of Sample Population (SE) | Alive (SE) | Deceased Before Age 55 (SE) | P Valuea |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sample size, n | 8962 | 283 | ||
| Population size, millions | 93.9 | 2.5 | ||
| Age, y, mean | 26.1 (0.17) | 26.1 (0.17) | 27.6 (0.74) | .054 |
| Male, % | 49.6 (0.61) | 49.3 (0.65) | 61.7 (3.87) | <.01 |
| Race/ethnicity, % | <.01 | |||
| Non-Hispanic white | 77.2 (1.19) | 77.4 (1.21) | 69.9 (3.43) | |
| Non-Hispanic black | 14.7 (0.98) | 14.5 (0.98) | 22.7 (2.83) | |
| Mexican American | 8.1 (0.76) | 8.1 (0.76) | 7.4 (1.26) | |
| Self-reported high blood pressure, % | 9.5 (0.45) | 9.2 (0.46) | 20.0 (4.24) | <.01 |
| Self-reported diabetes, % | 1.0 (0.23) | 0.9 (0.22) | 4.0 (1.92) | <.01 |
| Self-reported history of heart attack, % | 0.3 (0.10) | 0.3 (0.10) | —b | n/a |
| Self-reported history of chronic disease (heart disease, diabetes, or cancer), % | 10.4 (0.52) | 10.0 (0.54) | 22.6 (4.53) | <.01 |
| HbA1c level, mean | 5.1 (0.02) | 5.0 (0.02) | 5.2 (0.07) | <.01 |
| <5.7, % | 95.7 (0.44) | 95.9 (0.43) | 88.9 (2.14) | <.01 |
| 5.7–6.4, % | 3.4 (0.42) | 3.3 (0.42) | 6.7 (1.73) | |
| ≥6.5, % | 0.9 (0.18) | 0.8 (0.18) | 4.4 (1.14) | |
| Systolic BP, mean | 111.6 (0.24) | 111.5 (0.24) | 114.2 (1.37) | .03 |
| Diastolic BP, mean | 69.0 (0.34) | 68.9 (0.35) | 72.5 (1.26) | .01 |
| Normal blood pressure, % | 71.6 (0.79) | 72.1 (0.79) | 58.3 (5.95) | <.01 |
| Prehypertension,c % | 23.2 (0.77) | 23.4 (0.75) | 31.8 (5.24) | |
| Hypertension,d % | 5.2 (0.36) | 4.5 (0.34) | 9.9 (1.95) | |
| BMI, mean | 24.8 (0.13) | 24.8 (0.13) | 26.4 (0.61) | <.01 |
| Weight classification,e % | ||||
| Normal weight or underweight | 60.3 (0.97) | 59.5 (1.05) | 50.5 (3.81) | .049 |
| Overweight | 24.3 (0.71) | 24.4 (0.75) | 27.6 (3.84) | |
| Obese | 15.4 (0.67) | 16.1 (0.68) | 21.9 (3.53) | |
| Waist circumference in cm, mean | 84.9 (0.26) | 84.8 (0.28) | 90.9 (1.67) | <.01 |
| Large waist circumference,f % | 22.4 (0.87) | 22.2 (0.88) | 28.6 (3.76) | .08 |
| WHR, mean | 0.50 (0.002) | 0.50 (0.002) | 0.53 (0.01) | <.01 |
| <0.5, % | 55.7 (0.95) | 56.1 (0.96) | 43.9 (3.51) | <.01 |
| 0.5–0.64, % | 38.3 (0.79) | 38.1 (0.78) | 43.6 (4.20) | |
| ≥0.65, % | 6.0 (0.43) | 5.8 (0.45) | 12.5 (3.03) | |
| Total cholesterol level, mean | 182.0 (0.82) | 181.7 (0.85) | 190.8 (3.56) | .01 |
| <200, % | 71.6 (1.03) | 71.7 (1.02) | 66.0 (3.80) | .12 |
| 200–239, % | 20.9 (0.82) | 20.8 (0.82) | 22.5 (3.00) | |
| ≥240, % | 7.6 (0.53) | 7.5 (0.53) | 11.4 (2.42) | |
| HDL cholesterol level, mean | 50.4 (0.37) | 50.4 (0.39) | 50.3 (1.29) | .96 |
| Low,g % | 29.2 (1.20) | 29.1 (1.23) | 30.6 (4.01) | .83 |
| Middle,g % | 48.4 (1.21) | 48.4 (1.23) | 45.6 (4.57) | |
| High,g % | 22.5 (1.03) | 22.5 (1.08) | 23.8 (3.45) | |
| Non-HDL cholesterol, mean | 131.6 (0.90) | 131.4 (0.93) | 140.3 (3.43) | .01 |
| <130, % | 53.1 (1.01) | 53.4 (1.01) | 40.2 (4.88) | .03 |
| 130–144, % | 13.4 (0.64) | 13.3 (0.64) | 16.8 (3.79) | |
| ≥144, % | 33.5 (0.98) | 33.2 (0.98) | 43.0 (4.41) | |
| Self-reported smoking status, % | <.01 | |||
| Current | 33.6 (1.12) | 33.2 (1.12) | 48.1 (4.90) | |
| Former | 13.5 (0.73) | 13.6 (0.74) | 12.6 (3.13) | |
| Never | 52.9 (0.98) | 53.2 (0.96) | 39.3 (4.19) | |
| Cotinine levels, geometric mean | 2.2 (0.22) | 2.1 (0.22) | 7.7 (2.73) | <.01 |
| <0.05 (below limit of detection) | 8.4 (0.72) | 8.4 (0.74) | 6.3 (2.31) | <.01 |
| 0.05–<10 (environmental tobacco smoke exposure) | 57.6 (0.85) | 58.0 (0.85) | 42.5 (4.95) | |
| 10–99 (moderate tobacco exposure) | 7.8 (0.44) | 7.6 (0.45) | 12.2 (3.32) | |
| ≥100 (heavy tobacco exposure) | 26.3 (1.07) | 25.9 (1.06) | 39.1 (5.37) | |
Population based on 9245 participants aged 12–39 y with complete data on early mortality. Data reported are percentages (SE) unless otherwise noted. BP, blood pressure.
Difference between alive and deceased participants on selected characteristics estimated from design-corrected Wald F test.
No cases reported.
Prehypertension: for adults, as blood pressure between 120/80 and 140/90 and no self-report of a hypertension diagnosis. For adolescents, as blood pressure in the 90th to 95th percentile for one’s age, gender, and height or by adult blood pressure criteria.
Hypertension: For adults, hypertension was defined as blood pressure≥140/90 or a self-report of a hypertension diagnosis. For adolescents, as defined either as blood pressure above the 95th percentile for one’s age, gender, and height or by adult blood pressure criteria.
Weight classification: For adults, normal weight (BMI<25.0), overweight (BMI 25.0–29.9), or obese (BMI≥30.0). For adolescents, based on BMI percentiles relative to age- and gender-specific BMI distributions based on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention growth charts: normal weight (<85th percentile), overweight (85th–94th percentile), or obese (≥95th percentile).
Large waist circumference was defined as ≥80 cm for adolescent females, >88 cm for adult females, ≥90 cm for adolescent males, and ≥102 cm for adult males.
HDL cholesterol categories. For adolescents: low<35 mg/dL, middle 35–59 mg/dL, high≥60 mg/dL. For adults: low<40 mg/dL men and 50 mg/dL women, middle 40–59 mg/dL men and 50–59 mg/dL women, and high ≥ 60 mg/dL for both.