TABLE 1.
Baseline characteristics of the patients
| Variable | Eligible patients (n = 287) | Excluded patients (n = 21) | P |
| Women [n (%)] | 166 (57.8) | 12 (57.1) | >0.99 |
| Age (years) | 71.7 (9.7) | 72.7 (15.3) | 0.25 |
| BMI (kg/m2) | 25.0 (3.9) | 23.8 (2.3) | 0.20 |
| Current smoker [n (%)] | 23 (8.0) | 5 (23.8) | 0.031 |
| Current habitual drinking [n (%)] | 121 (42.2) | 11 (52.4) | 0.37 |
| Diabetes mellitus [n (%)] | 54 (18.8) | 1 (4.8) | 0.14 |
| Dyslipidaemia [n (%)] | 178 (62.0) | 11 (52.4) | 0.49 |
| Previous cardiovascular disease [n (%)] | 13 (4.5) | 2 (9.5) | 0.27 |
| Antihypertensive drug treatment [n (%)] | 277 (96.5) | 20 (95.2) | 0.55 |
| Interval between visits 1 and 2 (days) | 32.9 (8.7) | N/A | – |
| Interval between visits 1 and 3 (days) | 377.0 (20.4) | N/A | – |
| Drug regimen changed at visit 2 [n (%)] | 8 (2.8) | N/A | – |
| Drug regimen changed at visit 3 [n (%)] | 120 (41.8) | N/A | – |
Values are shown as the numbers of patients (percentage) or means (SD) for continuous variables. Definitions of each complication of the patients were reported by study clinics according to the most commonly used definition in Japan. Each drug regimen change was in comparison with visit 1 at baseline.