TABLE 1.
Baseline characteristics of participants according to quartiles of DASH score (n = 1995)1
| Q1, n = 522 | Q2, n = 562 | Q3, n = 501 | Q4, n = 410 | P-trend2 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Median (range) | 18 (9‒20) | 23 (21‒24) | 26 (25‒28) | 31 (29‒40) | <0.0001 |
| Age, y | 67 ± 9 | 67 ± 9 | 68 ± 9 | 66 ± 9 | 0.85 |
| Women, % (n) | 219 (42) | 277 (49) | 307 (61) | 295 (72) | <0.0001 |
| Ever smokers,3 % (n) | 261 (50) | 255 (45) | 184 (37) | 146 (36) | <0.0001 |
| Current smokers, % (n) | 14 (72) | 8 (43) | 6 (29) | 3 (14) | 0.004 |
| Former smokers, % (n) | 36 (188) | 38 (212) | 31 (155) | 32 (132) | <0.0001 |
| Alcohol consumption, g/d | 6 ± 10 | 5 ± 9 | 5 ± 6 | 4 ± 6 | <0.0001 |
| Physical activity score4 | 35 ± 6 | 35 ± 5 | 36 ± 5 | 36 ± 5 | 0.001 |
| BMI, kg/m2 | 29 ± 6 | 29 ± 5 | 28 ± 5 | 27 ± 5 | <0.0001 |
| Systolic blood pressure, mmHg | 129 ± 17 | 128 ± 17 | 128 ± 17 | 128 ± 18 | 0.16 |
| Total cholesterol, mg/dl | 182 ± 35 | 185 ± 39 | 186 ± 38 | 189 ± 36 | 0.01 |
| HDL cholesterol, mg/dl | 55 ± 18 | 56 ± 17 | 59 ± 19 | 62 ± 18 | <0.0001 |
| Energy intake, kcal/d | 1920 ± 679 | 1782 ± 632 | 1830 ± 621 | 2009 ± 531 | 0.04 |
| Diet quality score | |||||
| AHEI score | 46 ± 8 | 54 ± 8 | 61 ± 9 | 70 ± 9 | <0.0001 |
| MDS score | 9 ± 3 | 11 ± 3 | 14 ± 3 | 17 ± 3 | <0.0001 |
| HTN meds, % (n) | 319 (61) | 327 (58) | 246 (49) | 186 (45) | <0.0001 |
| T2D, % (n) | 63 (12) | 83 (15) | 70 (14) | 46 (11) | 0.70 |
Abbreviations: AHEI, Alternate Healthy Eating Index score; DASH, Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension; HTN meds, hypertension medications; MDS, Mediterranean-style diet score; T2D, type 2 diabetes.
Data were expressed as means (SDs) or percentages (numbers).
The P value for the linear trend was tested by treating the median value of each quartile as a continuous variable. Corresponding P values for trends were calculated using linear mixed-effects models for continuous variables and Cochran-Armitage trend tests for categorical variables.
An ever-smoker was defined as a current or former smoker.
A physical activity score was generated using the intensity and time spent performing each type of activity, assessed by a physical activity questionnaire.