Table 1 Baseline characteristics in relation to quartiles of FEV₁%predicted: Males (n = 20,295)

FEV₁%predicted

95.4 (±17.7)

117.0 (±9.9)

100.7 (±3.1)

90.3 (±3.2)

73.3 (±11.3)

–

Number (n)

20,295

5074

5074

5074

5073

–

Age (years)

43.4 (±6.6)

43.9 (±6.5)

42.9 (±6.6)

42.8 (±6.6)

44.0 (±6.7)

0.350

Height (m)

1.77 (±0.07)

1.77 (±0.07)

1.77 (±0.07)

1.77 (±0.07)

1.77 (±0.07)

0.820

Current-smokers (%)

49.1

35.8

43.4

53.5

63.8

<0.001

BMI (kg/m²)

24.6 (±3.2)

24.4 (±2.9)

24.5 (±3.1)

24.5 (±3.2)

24.8 (±3.6)

<0.001

Physical inactivity (%)

52.4

45.9

50.4

54.6

58.6

<0.001

Anti-hypertensive medication (%)

3.7

3.0

3.5

3.5

4.7

<0.001

High alcohol consumption (%)

17.8

15.6

16.8

18.7

20.1

<0.001

ESR (mm/h)^a

4.05

3.86

3.90

4.01

4.46

<0.001

Baseline glucose (mmol/L)

4.93 (±0.50)

4.89 (±0.49)

4.94 (±0.51)

4.94 (±0.50)

4.94 (±0.52)

<0.001

Cholesterol (mmol/L)

5.59 (±1.05)

5.52 (±1.01)

5.56 (±1.03)

5.60 (±1.06)

5.66 (±1.08)

<0.001

Family history of diabetes (%)

11.0

11.4

10.1

10.8

11.8

0.371

Social class (%)

0.125

 - Low skilled

44.9

42.5

42.6

45.8

48.8

 - High skilled

43.9

47.1

47.3

42.3

38.8

 - Self-employed

8.3

8.0

8.0

9.0

8.0

 - Other

3.0

2.5

2.5

2.9

4.5