Table 1 Baseline characteristics

Age (years)

59 ± 10

Male sex, n (%)

804 (79)

Obesity (BMI >30 (kg/m²); n (%))

178 (18)

BMI (kg/m²)

Males (n = 804)

26.8 ± 3.6

0.479

Females (n = 208)

27.1 ± 4.7

Waist circumference (cm)

< 0.001

Males (n = 804)

97 ± 10

Females (n = 208)

88 ± 12

Intra-abdominal fat (cm)

< 0.001

Males (n = 804)

9.9 ± 2.6

Females (n = 208)

8.3 ± 2.4

Subcutaneous fat (cm)

< 0.001

Males (n = 804)

2.3 ± 1.3

Females (n = 208)

3.0 ± 1.5

Type 2 diabetes, n (%)

158 (15)

Metabolic syndrome, n (%)^†

517 (51)

Blood pressure (mmHg)

Systolic

144 ± 22

Diastolic

83 ± 12

Smoking, n (%)

Never

171 (17)

Ever

464 (46)

Current

377 (37)

Pack years smoking

20.8 (6.4 – 35.0)

Metabolic parameters

Cholesterol (mmol/L)

4.9 ± 1.0

LDL-cholesterol (mmol/L)

2.8 ± 0.9

HDL-cholesterol (mmol/L)

1.3 (1.0 – 1.5)

Triglycerides (mmol/L)

1.5 (1.1 – 2.1)

Glucose (mmol/L)

6.3 ± 1.8

Insulin (mU/L)

10.0 (7.0 – 14.0)

HOMA-IR

2.5 (1.6 – 3.9)

hsCRP (mg/L)

1.9 (0.9 – 3.8)

Adiponectin (μg/ml)

19.7 (12.5 – 33.2)

eGFR (ml/min/1.73 m²)^‡

77 ± 18

Creatinine (mmol/l)

93 ± 44

History of vascular disease, n (%)

Cerebrovascular disease

265 (26)

Coronary artery disease

597 (59)

Peripheral artery disease

242 (24)

Aneurysm of the abdominal aorta

99 (10)

Medication use, n (%)

Platelet-aggregation inhibitors

766 (76)

Blood pressure-lowering agents

734 (73)

Lipid-lowering agents

685 (68)

Oral anticoagulants

78 (8)

Anti-hyperglycaemic agents

96 (10)