Table 1

Baseline characteristics of study participants in the multiethnic study of atherosclerosis (MESA), by report of recent respiratory infection in the first five study examinations*

CharacteristicAll participants,
n=6536 (100.0%)
Participants who reported an infection at any examination,
n=3167 (48.5%)
Participants who reported no infection at all examinations,
n=3369 (51.5%)
Age (years), mean (SD)62.0 (10.2)61.2 (10.1)62.8 (10.3)
Race
 White2516 (38.5)1157 (36.5)1359 (40.3)
 Chinese-American787 (12.0)332 (10.5)455 (13.5)
 African-American1786 (27.3)898 (28.4)888 (26.4)
 Hispanic1447 (22.1)780 (24.6)667 (19.8)
Sex
 Female3445 (52.7)1765 (55.7)1680 (49.9)
 Male3091 (47.3)1402 (44.3)1689 (50.1)
Education level
 Less than high school1169 (17.9)585 (18.5)584 (17.3)
 High school1187 (18.2)570 (18.0)617 (18.3)
 Some college or technical certificate1858 (28.4)905 (28.6)953 (28.3)
 College or graduate degree2322 (35.5)1107 (35.0)1215 (36.1)
Married/living with a partner3947 (60.4)1850 (58.4)2097 (62.2)
Body mass index, mean (SD)28.3 (5.5)28.7 (5.6)28.0 (5.3)
Ever smoked3485 (53.3)1697 (53.6)1788 (53.1)
Current smoker741 (11.4)414 (13.1)327 (9.8)
Employed2838 (43.4)1429 (45.1)1409 (41.8)
Annual family income
 <$20 0001597 (24.6)789 (25.1)808 (24.2)
 $20 000–$39 9991756 (27.1)880 (28.0)876 (26.2)
 $40 000–$74 9991653 (25.5)816 (26.0)837 (25.1)
 ≥$75 0001474 (22.7)654 (20.8)820 (24.5)
Own home or pay mortgage4413 (67.7)2045 (64.8)2368 (70.5)
Excellent self-reported general health status1465 (46.9)639 (44.1)826 (49.3)
No health insurance464 (7.2)233 (7.4)231 (6.9)
On medicaid616 (9.5)304 (9.7)312 (9.3)
Diabetic per ADA 2003 criteria1052 (16.1)537 (17.0)515 (15.3)
Has metabolic syndrome2485 (38.0)1235 (39.0)1250 (37.1)
Moderate and vigorous physical activity, met minutes/week, median (IQR)3870 (1950–7080)4065 (2018–7328)3765 (1905–6840)
Intentional physical activity, met minutes/week, median (IQR)810 (105–1950)788 (88–1875)840 (158–2085)
Self-reported emphysema73 (1.1)42 (1.3)31 (0.9)
Self-reported asthma253 (3.9)142 (4.5)111 (3.3)
  • *Units are n (%) unless otherwise specified.

  • ADA, American Diabetic Association.