TABLE 2.
Selected characteristics of the participants in the REGARDS case-cohort (n = 639) across quintiles of the DIS and LIS1
| DIS quintile | LIS quintile | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Characteristics | 1 (n = 129) | 3 (n = 127) | 5 (n = 127) | P 2 | 1 (n = 132) | 3 (n = 131) | 5 (n = 113) | P 2 |
| Score range | −1.7 to −0.4 | −0.1 to 0.2 | 0.6 to 1.9 | −1.1 to −0.2 | 0.5 to 0.7 | 1.4 to 2.4 | ||
| Demographics | ||||||||
| Age, y | 62.8 ± 7.8 | 61.6 ± 8.1 | 60.3 ± 8.2 | 0.09 | 62.1 ± 9.1 | 62 ± 7.1 | 61.2 ± 7.9 | 0.83 |
| Men, % | 48.8 | 48.8 | 48.8 | 1.00 | 54.4 | 51.7 | 39.3 | 0.03 |
| White, % | 79.8 | 60.6 | 41.7 | <0.001 | 80.9 | 61.1 | 57.8 | <0.001 |
| Income <$20,000, % | 6.2 | 14.2 | 24.4 | 0.001 | 20.6 | 15.4 | 21.5 | 0.02 |
| College graduate or higher, % | 59.7 | 40.2 | 21.3 | <0.001 | 52.9 | 40.3 | 25.2 | <0.001 |
| Southeastern US resident, % | 47.3 | 52.0 | 63.8 | 0.22 | 48.5 | 61.7 | 63.0 | 0.003 |
| Medical history, % | ||||||||
| Has comorbidity3 | 37.2 | 33.1 | 44.9 | 0.11 | 26.5 | 37.6 | 49.6 | 0.003 |
| Take NSAID/aspirin ≥ twice/wk | 55.8 | 44.9 | 50.4 | 0.50 | 48.2 | 49.0 | 53.3 | 0.89 |
| HRT user (women) | 65.7 | 64.6 | 49.2 | 0.15 | 64.5 | 69.4 | 61.5 | 0.62 |
| Lifestyle, % | ||||||||
| Current smoker | 10.1 | 11.8 | 25.2 | <0.001 | 5.2 | 18.1 | 23.0 | <0.001 |
| Normal BMI | 33.6 | 17.5 | 16.0 | <0.001 | 79.0 | 4.7 | 0.0 | <0.001 |
| Nondrinker4 | 48.8 | 48.0 | 61.4 | 0.46 | 37.5 | 53.7 | 88.2 | <0.001 |
| Exercises ≤3 times/wk5 | 62.8 | 66.9 | 78.7 | <0.001 | 42.7 | 70.5 | 99.3 | <0.001 |
| Dietary intakes | ||||||||
| Total energy, kcal/d | 1717 ± 670 | 1809 ± 713 | 1902 ± 905 | 0.23 | 1728 ± 550 | 1845 ± 798 | 1844 ± 896 | 0.20 |
| Dietary fiber, g/(1000 kcal · d) | 12.5 ± 3.9 | 9.2 ± 3.0 | 6.7 ± 2.5 | <0.001 | 10.2 ± 3.7 | 9.3 ± 3.3 | 9.1 ± 3.9 | 0.003 |
| Total fat, % kcal/d | 37.3 ± 9.0 | 36.9 ± 6.9 | 38.1 ± 8.1 | 0.21 | 36.6 ± 7.8 | 38.0 ± 8.1 | 38.0 ± 7.6 | 0.05 |
| Polyunsaturated fat, g/(1000 kcal · d) | 10.9 ± 3.4 | 10.4 ± 2.8 | 10.5 ± 3.6 | 0.58 | 10.5 ± 3.3 | 11.0 ± 3.3 | 10.6 ± 3.3 | 0.49 |
| Monounsaturated fat, g/(1000 kcal · d) | 16.3 ± 4.6 | 15.4 ± 3.5 | 15.8 ± 3.8 | 0.10 | 15.7 ± 4.0 | 16.1 ± 4.1 | 15.9 ± 3.7 | 0.36 |
| Carbohydrates, % kcal/d | 46.8 ± 10.4 | 47.8 ± 8.5 | 48.2 ± 9.5 | 0.20 | 47.8 ± 9.3 | 47.3 ± 9.0 | 48.4 ± 9.6 | 0.08 |
| Protein, % kcal/d | 16.1 ± 2.9 | 14.9 ± 3.1 | 13.0 ± 2.9 | <0.001 | 14.7 ± 2.9 | 15.0 ± 2.9 | 14.6 ± 3.4 | 0.73 |
| Inflammation markers | ||||||||
| Plasma IL-6, pg/mL | 2.2 ± 1.7 | 2.6 ± 1.7 | 3.2 ± 1.7 | <0.001 | 2.0 ± 1.7 | 2.7 ± 1.7 | 3.2 ± 1.7 | <0.001 |
| Plasma IL-8, pg/mL | 2.1 ± 1.6 | 2.2 ± 1.8 | 2.6 ± 1.5 | 0.003 | 2.2 ± 1.8 | 2.2 ± 1.6 | 2.4 ± 1.7 | 0.10 |
| Plasma IL-10, pg/mL | 7.3 ± 2.1 | 9.0 ± 2.0 | 8.0 ± 1.8 | 0.12 | 8.0 ± 2.1 | 8.3 ± 1.9 | 8.4 ± 2.0 | 0.98 |
| Plasma hsCRP, mg/dL | 1.2 ± 2.7 | 1.7 ± 2.7 | 2.5 ± 2.5 | <0.001 | 0.9 ± 2.6 | 2.0 ± 2.4 | 2.7 ± 2.4 | <0.001 |
| Inflammation biomarker score | −0.6 ± 2.2 | −0.2 ± 2.2 | 1.1 ± 1.8 | <0.001 | −1.1 ± 2.2 | 0.2 ± 2.1 | 1.0 ± 1.9 | <0.001 |
| Plasma hsCRP >3 mg/dL, % | 18.6 | 33.1 | 45.7 | <0.001 | 11.8 | 34.9 | 45.2 | <0.001 |
For construction of scores, see text and Table 1; higher scores (i.e., those in the higher quintiles) indicate more proinflammatory diets or lifestyles. Data are presented as means ± SDs unless otherwise specified. DIS, dietary inflammation score; HRT, hormone replacement therapy; hsCRP, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein; LIS, lifestyle inflammation score; NSAID, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug; REGARDS, Reasons for Racial and Geographic Differences in Stroke Study.
P values calculated using 
2 test for categorical variables and ANOVA for continuous variables (natural logarithm-transformed, when indicated, to meet normality assumptions).
Includes a history of cancer, heart disease, diabetes mellitus, or chronic kidney disease.
Zero (0) g of ethanol daily.
Frequency/wk physically active enough to work up a sweat.