TABLE 1.
Age-standardized baseline characteristics according to quartiles of the diet quality scores among women aged ≥60 y in the Nurses’ Health Study1
| AMED | DASH | AHEI-2010 | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | |
| Diet quality score, range | 0–2 | 3–4 | 5 | 6–9 | 8–21 | 22–25 | 26–28 | 29–38 | 16–47 | 47–54 | 54–62 | 62–95 |
| Diet quality score | 2.09 ± 0.72 | 3.68 ± 0.43 | 4.95 ± 0.28 | 6.46 ± 0.71 | 18.9 ± 2.1 | 23.3 ± 1.0 | 26.2 ± 1.0 | 29.9 ± 1.9 | 41.9 ± 4.7 | 51.1 ± 2.0 | 57.7 ± 2.0 | 67.3 ± 5.0 |
| Participants, n | 17,155 | 21,012 | 15,944 | 17,830 | 20,035 | 20,280 | 16,563 | 15,063 | 19,313 | 18,157 | 17,620 | 16,851 |
| Age, y | 62.3 ± 2.1 | 62.8 ± 2.4 | 62.5 ± 2.2 | 62.7 ± 2.3 | 62.3 ± 2.1 | 62.7 ± 2.3 | 62.6 ± 2.3 | 62.8 ± 2.4 | 62.5 ± 2.2 | 62.6 ± 2.2 | 62.6 ± 2.3 | 62.7 ± 2.3 |
| BMI, kg/m2 | 27.2 ± 5.5 | 26.7 ± 5.2 | 26.5 ± 5.1 | 25.9 ± 4.8 | 27.0 ± 5.5 | 26.8 ± 5.2 | 26.5 ± 5.0 | 25.8 ± 4.8 | 27.2 ± 5.6 | 26.7 ± 5.2 | 26.5 ± 5.0 | 25.8 ± 4.7 |
| Current smoker, % | 16 | 11 | 9 | 6 | 18 | 10 | 7 | 5 | 15 | 12 | 9 | 6 |
| Energy intake, kcal/d | 1508 ± 463 | 1666 ± 480 | 1823 ± 439 | 2001 ± 494 | 1667 ± 516 | 1708 ± 515 | 1791 ± 511 | 1863 ± 493 | 1795 ± 508 | 1744 ± 519 | 1729 ± 520 | 1722 ± 508 |
| Leisure-time physical activity, MET-h/wk | 14.4 ± 19.2 | 18.0 ± 22.0 | 21.2 ± 23.8 | 26.3 ± 27.4 | 14.5 ± 19.3 | 18.4 ± 21.5 | 21.7 ± 24.5 | 27.2 ± 28.3 | 15.0 ± 19.9 | 18.1 ± 22.0 | 21.2 ± 23.7 | 26.1 ± 27.5 |
| Medication use2 | ||||||||||||
| Aspirin, % | 47 | 49 | 50 | 51 | 48 | 50 | 51 | 50 | 49 | 50 | 51 | 49 |
| Postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy, % | 32 | 34 | 36 | 38 | 30 | 35 | 37 | 39 | 31 | 34 | 36 | 39 |
| Diuretics, % | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 10 |
| β-Blockers, % | 14 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 12 |
| Calcium channel blockers, % | 10 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 10 |
| Other blood pressure medication, % | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 7 |
| ACE inhibitors, % | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 |
| Statins, % | 18 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 18 |
| Other cholesterol-lowering drugs, % | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Insulin, % | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Oral hypoglycemic drugs, % | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| Number of frailty criteria,3 % | ||||||||||||
| 0 | 69 | 74 | 75 | 79 | 69 | 74 | 76 | 79 | 69 | 73 | 76 | 79 |
| 1 | 25 | 22 | 21 | 17 | 24 | 22 | 20 | 17 | 24 | 22 | 20 | 17 |
| 2 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 4 |
1
n = 71,941. Values are means ± SDs unless otherwise indicated. Data, except age, were directly standardized to the age distribution of the entire cohort. ACE, angiotensin-converting enzyme; AHEI-2010, alternate Healthy Eating Index-2010; AMED, alternate Mediterranean diet; DASH, Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension; MET, metabolic equivalent task.
2
One or more times per week.
3
Frailty criteria are fatigue, reduced resistance, reduced aerobic capacity, having several illnesses, and a significant weight loss during the previous year.