Table 1.
Baseline characteristics of the study population in the PREvención con DIeta MEDiterránea (PREDIMED) study a.
| Total Study Population n = 7216 |
Colorectal Cancer Events n = 97 |
Non-Events n = 7119 |
p-Value b | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 WCRF/AICR score | 3.8 (3.3–4.4) | 3.8 (3.2–4.2) | 3.8 (3.3–4.4) | 0.110 |
| Low-risk lifestyle score | 2 (1–2) | 1 (1–2) | 2 (1–2) | 0.021 * |
| Age, years | 67 (62–72) | 67 (62–72) | 67 (62–72) | 0.269 |
| Women, % (n) | 57.4 (4145) | 41.2 (40) | 57.7 (4105) | 0.001 * |
| Education level, % (n) | ||||
| Primary, secondary, high school | 92.9 (6700) | 92.8 (90) | 92.9 (6610) | 0.980 |
| University/graduate | 7.2 (516) | 7.2 (7) | 7.2 (509) | |
| Age at diagnosis of cancer, years | 72.4 (66.8–76.4) | 72.4 (66.8–76.4) | – | – |
| Family history of cancer, % (n) | 49.2 (3548) | 41.2 (40) | 49.3 (3508) | 0.116 |
| Cancer location | ||||
| Colon, % (n) | 77 (79.4) | 77 (79.4) | – | – |
| Rectum, % (n) | 20 (20.6) | 20 (20.6) | – | – |
| Diabetes, % (n) | 48.9 (3527) | 51.6 (50) | 48.8 (3477) | 0.597 |
| Hypertension, % (n) | 82.7 (5970) | 80.4 (78) | 82.8 (5892) | 0.543 |
| Waist circumference, cm | ||||
| Women | 99 (91–105) | 98.2 (92–107) | 99 (91–105) | 0.614 |
| Men | 103 (97–109) | 103 (96–11) | 103 (97–109) | 0.441 |
| BMI, kg/m2 | 29.7 (27.2–32.5) | 29.9 (27.6–32.3) | 29.7 (27.2–32.5) | 0.813 |
| MVPA, min./wk. | 42.2 (0–296.5) | 52.5 (0–311) | 42.1 (0–296.5) | 0.982 |
| Smoking status, % (n) | ||||
| Never smokers | 61.5 (4438) | 47.4 (46) | 61.7 (4392) | 0.011 * |
| Former smokers | 24.6 (1774) | 30.9 (30) | 24.5 (1744) | |
| Current smokers | 13.9 (1004) | 21.7 (21) | 13.8 (983) | |
| Current medication, % (n) | ||||
| Aspirin | 22.4 (1613) | 24.7 (24) | 22.3 (1589) | 0.758 |
| HRT (only in women) | 2.8 (115) | 5 (2) | 2.8 (113) | 0.234 |
| Intervention groups, % (n) | ||||
| MedDiet + EVOO | 34.3 (2474) | 39.2 (38) | 34.2 (2436) | 0.390 |
| MedDiet + nuts | 32.7 (2360) | 34.0 (33) | 32.7 (2327) | |
| Control low–fat diet | 33.0 (2382) | 26.8 (26) | 33.1 (2356) | |
| Energy intake (kcal/day) | 2184.4 (1842.9–2579.7) | 2183.4 (1942–2669.3) | 2184.5 (1841.6–2578.2) | 0.263 |
| AHEI–2010 score | 64.4 (58.8–70.2) | 62.6 (57.4–69.1) | 64.4 (58.9–70.2) | 0.210 |
| Food consumption, g/day | ||||
| Vegetables | 313.7 (235–408.7) | 289.2 (221.2–367) | 314 (235–409.3) | 0.164 |
| Fruits | 333.1 (227.2–475) | 324.5 (222.4–459.2) | 333.3 (227.6–475) | 0.454 |
| Legumes | 17.1 (12.6–25.1) | 17.1 (16–25.1) | 17.1 (12.6–25.1) | 0.778 |
| Red and processed meat | 68.1 (42.6–100) | 68.3 (45.7–111.7) | 68.1 (42.4–100) | 0.073 |
| Fast food and processed foods | 72.4 (45.7–109.2) | 77.2 (51–108.6) | 72.4 (45.7–109.2) | 0.746 |
| Sugar-sweetened beverages | 13.3 (0–85.7) | 13.3 (0–99.1) | 13.3 (0–85.7) | 0.388 |
| Alcohol | 1.5 (0–10.4) | 4.3 (0–12.2) | 1.5 (0–10.4) | 0.093 |
a Data are expressed as medians (IQR, interquartile range) for continuous variables and percentage and number (n) for categorical variables. b p-values for comparison between colorectal cancer cases and non-cases were calculated by chi-square or t-Student tests for categorical and continuous variables, respectively. All statistical tests were two-sided. * p-value <0.05. Abbreviations: AHEI, alternate healthy eating index; BMI, body mass index; EVOO, extra virgin olive oil; HRT, hormone replacement therapy; MedDiet, Mediterranean diet; min/wk., min/week; MVPA, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity; WCRF/AICR, World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research.