Table 1 Descriptive characteristics of the EPIC-Norfolk cohort by sex measured at baseline from 1993–1997.

N

10141

12316

Age (years)

58.4 ± 9.2

57.9 ± 9.2

Body Mass Index (kg/m²)

26.5 ± 3.3

26.2 ± 4.3

Cigarette smoking habit

   Never

34.5 (3477)

56.8 (6931)

   Former

53.1 (5354)

31.9 (3891)

   Current

12.4 (1249)

11.4 (1389)

Social Class

I

Professional

7.8 (787)

6.5 (795)

II

Manager

38.2 (3875)

35.2 (4329)

III nm

Skilled non-manual

12.4 (1260)

19.6 (2419)

III m

Skilled manual

25.2 (2559)

21.4 (2634)

IV

Semi-skilled

13.4 (1362)

13.4 (1652)

V

Unskilled

2.9 (298)

4.0 (487)

Finished school

70.6 (7161)

53.6 (6599)

Self rate health

   Excellent

18.4 (1864)

16.1 (1983)

   Good

63.9 (6478)

64.9 (7990)

   Moderate

16.3 (1656)

17.6 (2166)

   Poor

1.4 (143)

1.4 (177)

Units of alcohol per week

   0

9.5 (960)

16.8 (2074

   1–13.9

63.4 (6432)

75.3 (9270)

   ≥ 14

27.1 (2749)

7.9 (972)

Exercise

   Inactive

29.3 (2966)

28.8 (3543)

   Moderately inactive

24.7 (2505)

32.6 (4009)

   Moderately active

23.3 (2367)

22.7 (2799)

   Active

22.7 (2302)

16.0 (1965)