Q1

(n = 1667)

Q2

(n = 1667)

Q3

(n = 1667)

Q4

(n = 1667)

Q5

(n = 1667)

p value

Sex (% men)

32

32

33

39

49

<0.001^*

Age at baseline (years), mean (SD)

41 (12)

38 (11)

36 (10)

34 (10)

33 (9)

<0.001^†

BMI (kg/m²), mean (SD)

24 (3)

23 (3)

23 (3)

23 (3)

23 (3)

0.982^†

Smoking:

Non-smoker (%)

45

47

50

51

49

<0.001^*

Ex smoker (%)

Current smoker (%)

35 19

32 21

26 24

23 26

21 30

<0.001^*

<0.001^*

Leisure time physical activity (Mets-h/w), mean (SD)

25 (27)

20 (22)

19 (20)

19 (21)

19 (21)

<0.001^†

Total energy intake (Kcal/d), mean (SD)

2688 (488)

2265 (531)

2177 (619)

2279 (629)

2507 (615)

<0.001^†

Marital status (% married)

57

57

50

42

38

<0.001^*

Unemployed (%)

4.6

4.8

5.2

6.3

5.3

0.200^*

Mediterranean dietary score (0 - 9)

5.2 (1.6)

4.6 (1.6)

4.1 (1.7)

3.8 (1.7)

3.6 (1.7)

<0.001^†