Table 1.
Age‐Standardized Characteristics of Study Participants in 1996 According to Reproductive Life Span in the Nurses' Health Studya
| Reproductive Life Span (Years) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| <30 | 30 to 33 | 34 to 37 | 38 to 41 | ≥42 | |
| No. of participants, n | 4904 | 6977 | 17 791 | 20 591 | 6409 |
| Age, yb | 62.1±6.9 | 62.6±6.9 | 62.7±7.0 | 63.0±6.9 | 63.5±6.1 |
| White, % | 96 | 97 | 97 | 97 | 97 |
| Natural menopause, % | 28 | 62 | 83 | 91 | 94 |
| Hormone therapy use, % | |||||
| Never | 16 | 28 | 36 | 40 | 45 |
| Current | 29 | 25 | 21 | 18 | 15 |
| Past | 55 | 48 | 43 | 41 | 39 |
| Ever oral contraceptive use,% | 43 | 46 | 47 | 46 | 44 |
| Nulliparous, % | 12 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 4 |
| Hypertension, % | 46 | 42 | 39 | 40 | 44 |
| Hypercholesterolemia, % | 60 | 54 | 54 | 52 | 52 |
| Diabetes mellitus, % | 9 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| Family history of MI, % | 23 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 |
| Family history of stroke, % | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| BMI, kg/m2 | 26.5±5.4 | 26.1±5.1 | 26.1±5.1 | 26.6±5.2 | 27.4±5.5 |
| BMI at age 18 y, kg/m2 | 21.2±3.0 | 21.1±3.0 | 21.2±2.9 | 21.4±2.9 | 21.8±3.1 |
| Smoking status, % | |||||
| Never | 42 | 41 | 42 | 47 | 52 |
| Past | 44 | 43 | 44 | 43 | 40 |
| Current | 14 | 16 | 14 | 11 | 8 |
| Moderate‐to‐vigorous exercise, h/week | 1.7±3.0 | 1.6±2.9 | 1.7±2.9 | 1.8±2.9 | 1.7±2.8 |
| Alternate Healthy Eating Index score | 47.8±10.4 | 47.6±10.3 | 47.8±10.1 | 48.2±10.3 | 48.7±10.2 |
| Aspirin use, % | 45 | 44 | 45 | 45 | 44 |
| Alcohol consumption, g/d | 4.5±8.7 | 5.1±9.4 | 5.5±9.9 | 5.2±9.3 | 4.9±8.9 |
BMI indicates body mass index.
a
Mean±SD or percentages and are standardized to the age distribution of the study population; Alternate Healthy Eating Index scored without inclusion of alcohol consumption scores.
b
Value is not age adjusted.