Table 1 Baseline characteristics of study participants

From: A prospective study of plasma inflammatory markers and risk of colorectal cancer in men

Baseline characteristics

Cases ( n =274)

Controls ( n =532)

P -value

Mean age at blood draw (s.d.), year

65.8 (8.3)

65.9 (8.3)

0.29

Non-white, no. (%)

17 (6.2)

31 (5.8)

0.83

CRC in a parent or sibling, no. (%)

54 (19.7)

73 (13.7)

0.03

History of previous endoscopy, no. (%)

154 (56.2)

358 (67.3)

0.002

Current multivitamin use, no. (%)

130 (47.5)

275 (51.7)

0.25

Regular aspirin use, no. (%)a

115 (42.0)

258 (48.5)

0.08

Regular NSAID use, no. (%)b

31 (11.3)

63 (11.8)

0.82

Current or past smoker, no. (%)c

152 (57.6)

273 (54.0)

0.34

Mean pack-years of smoking (s.d.)d

24.6 (17.9)

24.8 (18.9)

0.72

Mean BMI (s.d.), kg m−2

26.2 (3.1)

25.3 (2.7)

<0.001

Mean waist circumference (s.d.), inche

38.6 (3.5)

37.5 (3.3)

<0.001

Mean waist-to-hip ratio (s.d.)e

0.96 (0.05)

0.94 (0.05)

<0.001

Mean MET-hours (s.d.)

31.9 (26.9)

30.9 (25.1)

0.60

Mean daily intakes (s.d.)f

Alcohol, g

12.2 (14.8)

11.9 (14.7)

0.77

Folate, μg

494 (209)

520 (228)

0.13

Calcium, mg

917 (385)

928 (343)

0.62

Red meat, servings

1.15 (0.77)

1.08 (0.69)

0.17

Total fiber, g

22.1 (6.4)

22.6 (6.5)

0.23

Median CRP (IQR), mg l−1

1.36 (0.68–2.62)

1.11 (0.59–2.18)

0.72

Median IL-6 (IQR), pg ml−1

1.60 (0.99–2.65)

1.39 (0.93–2.24)

0.42

Median sTNFR-2 (IQR), pg ml−1

2746 (2346–3232)

2725 (2345–3336)

0.28

  1. Abbreviations: BMI=body mass index; CRC=colorectal cancer; CRP=C-reactive protein; IL-6=interleukin-6; IQR=inter-quartile range; MET=metabolic equivalent=(caloric need per kilogram body weight per hour activity)/(caloric need per kilogram body weight per hour at rest); NSAID=non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug; sTNFR-2=soluble tumour necrosis factor receptor 2.
  2. aA standard tablet contains 325 mg aspirin, and regular users were defined as those who used at least two tablets per week.
  3. bRegular users were defined as those who used at least two tablets per week.
  4. cThirty six participants with missing values were excluded from calculation.
  5. dNever smokers (N=345) and participants with missing values (N=45) were excluded when calculating means and s.d.
  6. eMeasured in 1987, and 147 and 149 participants with missing information on waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio were excluded from calculation of means and s.d., respectively.
  7. fFor dietary factors, up to 12 participants have missing information.
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