Table 1 Baseline characteristics of study participants by sex
| Â | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
n (%) | n (%) | |
Total | 254,643 | 204,886 |
Age | ||
 40–49 | 128,281 (50.4) | 90,458 (44.2) |
 50–59 | 71,765 (28.2) | 58,433 (28.5) |
 60–69 | 43,079 (16.9) | 42,448 (20.7) |
  ≥ 70 | 11,518 (4.5) | 13,547 (6.6) |
Household income | ||
 Low | 62,487 (24.5) | 75,521 (36.9) |
 Medium | 97,249 (38.2) | 70,298 (34.3) |
 High | 94,907 (37.3) | 59,067 (28.8) |
Insurance type | ||
 Self-employed insured | 79,514 (31.2) | 94,455 (46.1) |
 Employed insured | 174,968 (68.7) | 110,128 (53.8) |
 Medical aid beneficiary | 161 (0.1) | 303 (0.2) |
BMI | ||
 Underweight ( < 18.5 kg/m2) | 5548 (2.2) | 4647 (2.3) |
 Normal (18.5–< 23 kg/m2) | 86,195 (33.9) | 77,837 (38.0) |
 Overweight (23–< 25 kg/m2) | 72,614 (28.5) | 53,585 (26.2) |
 Obesity (25–< 30 kg/m2) | 85,063 (33.4) | 61,638 (30.1) |
 Severe obesity (≥ 30 kg/m2) | 5223 (2.1) | 7179 (3.5) |
Smoking status | ||
 Unknown | 11,751 (4.6) | 7766 (3.8) |
 Never smoker | 101,698 (39.9) | 189,987 (92.7) |
 Past smoker | 37,778 (14.8) | 1825 (0.9) |
 Current smoker | 103,416 (40.6) | 5308 (2.6) |
Alcohol consumption | ||
 Unknown | 3612 (1.4) | 5007 (2.4) |
 None | 85,986 (33.8) | 164,513 (80.3) |
  < Twice a week | 115,545 (45.4) | 31,637 (15.4) |
  ≥ Three times a week | 49,500 (19.4) | 3729 (1.8) |
Physical activity | ||
 Unknown | 7844 (3.1) | 6031 (2.9) |
 None | 121,735 (47.8) | 133,098 (65.0) |
  < Twice a week | 73,988 (29.1) | 33,089 (16.2) |
  ≥ Three times a week | 51,076 (20.1) | 32,668 (15.9) |