Table 1 Baseline characteristics of MESA participants by race/ethnicity, 2000–2002

Age, M (SD)

62.60 (10.25)

62.15 (10.05)

62.34 (10.33)

61.27 (10.34)

Gender (male), n(%)

1,260 (48.1%)

842 (44.5%)

390 (48.5%)

721 (48.2%)

Education level (highest degree), n(%)

 No degree

129 (4.9%)

229 (12.2%)

199 (24.8%)

668 (44.7%)

 High school or associate’s degree

1,188 (45.4%)

1,013 (53.9%)

292 (36.4%)

680 (45.5%)

 Bachelor’s degree

581 (22.2%)

325 (17.3%)

182 (22.7%)

83 (5.5%)

 Graduate degree

716 (27.4%)

311 (16.6%)

130 (16.2%)

65 (4.3%)

Household income, n(%)

 < $25,000

413 (16.2%)

530 (30.6%)

395 (49.5%)

722 (49.5%)

 $25,000 - $49,999

681 (26.7%)

558 (32.2%)

175 (21.9%)

478 (32.7%)

 $50,000 - $99,999

836 (32.8%)

500 (28.9%)

148 (18.5%)

225 (15.4%)

 $100,000+

621 (24.3%)

144 (8.3%)

80 (10.0%)

35 (2.4%)

Health insurance, n(%)

2,545 (97.3%)

1,762 (93.8%)

649 (80.8%)

1,227 (82.0%)

Intentional exercise (metabolic equivalent min/wk), M (SD)

1,686.63 (2,300.71)

1,712.10 (2,784.83)

1,147.93 (1,517.59)

1,335.87 (2,109.64)

Diet (poor), n(%)

1,606 (63.1%)

1,096 (62.6%)

248 (30.8%)

958 (66.9%)

Smoking status, n(%)

 Never

1,158 (44.3%)

848 (45.2%)

605 (75.3%)

807 (53.9%)

 Former

1,156 (44.2%)

692 (36.8%)

153 (19.1%)

486 (32.5%)

 Current

301 (11.5%)

338 (18.0%)

45 (5.6%)

203 (13.6%)

Pack-years (among smokers), M (SD)

26.98 (27.93)

22.03 (21.96)

20.04 (22.73)

16.91 (20.95)

Alcohol status, n(%)

 Never

245 (9.4%)

325 (17.4%)

432 (54.0%)

388 (26.0%)

 Former

484 (18.6%)

620 (33.2%)

118 (14.8%)

402 (26.9%)

 Current

1,869 (71.9%)

925 (49.5%)

250 (31.3%)

705 (47.2%)

Lifetime perceived discrimination, M (SD)

0.57 (0.89)

1.22 (1.32)

0.30 (0.69)

0.67 (1.02)

Chronic stress (burden), M (SD)

1.23 (1.18)

1.36 (1.25)

0.79 (1.07)

1.25 (1.20)

Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (mg/dl), M (SD)

117.05 (30.15)

116.47 (33.03)

115.09 (28.95)

119.54 (32.85)

High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (mg/dl), M (SD)

52.24 (15.69)

52.42 (15.28)

49.53 (12.71)

47.65 (13.07)

Total cholesterol (mg/dl), M (SD)

195.71 (35.13)

189.64 (36.27)

192.61 (31.78)

197.95 (37.45)

Triglycerides (mg/dl), M (SD)

132.89 (90.21)

104.79 (68.58)

142.70 (84.72)

157.05 (101.08)

Statin medication, n(%)

436 (16.7%)

291 (15.4%)

103 (12.8%)

180 (12.0%)

Systolic blood pressure (mmHg), M (SD)

123.49 (20.43)

131.68 (21.58)

124.57 (21.62)

126.68 (21.89)

Diastolic blood pressure (mmHg), M (SD)

70.24 (9.97)

74.48 (10.21)

71.99 (10.34)

71.56 (10.12)

Hypertension medication, n(%)

868 (33.1%)

950 (50.3%)

231 (28.7%)

487 (32.6%)

Diabetes medication, n(%)

123 (4.7%)

263 (13.9%)

72 (9.0%)

230 (15.4%)

Fasting glucose (mg/dL), M (SD)

91.41 (21.55)

100.04 (32.00)

98.95 (28.23)

103.63 (39.08)

Body mass index (kg/m²), M (SD)

27.73 (5.06)

30.17 (5.88)

23.99 (3.30)

29.43 (5.10)

Immigration history, n(%)

 U.S. born

2,444 (94.9%)

1,712 (93.0%)

30 (4.0%)

466 (33.8%)

 Immigrant to U.S. < 30 y ago

32 (1.2%)

69 (3.8%)

576 (76.7%)

416 (30.2%)

 Immigrant to U.S. ≥ 30 y ago

100 (3.9%)

59 (3.2%)

145 (19.3%)

495 (35.9%)