Table 1.

Characteristics of participants ≥45 Years of Age in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey II Mortality Study at Baseline*

Participants (n)
    Unweighted5119
    Weighted (million)45.8
Allergy skin testing (%)
    Negative77.0
    Positive23.0
Sex (%)
    Male45.5
    Female54.5
Race (%)
    Non-Hispanic white86.2
    Non-Hispanic black9.9
    Hispanic3.9
Smoking status (%)
    Nonsmoker63.7
    Current36.3
Diabetes (%)
    No94.6
    Yes5.4
High blood pressure (%)
    No65.4
    Yes34.6
Alcohol use (%)
    Nondrinker39.4
    Drinker60.6
LDL cholesterol (%)
    <160 mg/dL84.6
    ≥160 mg/dL15.4
Physical activity (%)
    Sedentary10.9
    Low50.4
    High38.7
Mean age (SD)57.4 (0.14)
Mean body mass index (kg/m2) (SD)26.3 (0.11)
  • * This excludes individuals with a history of myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, or stroke.

  • LDL, low-density lipoprotein.