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Table 1 Characteristics of study participants (overall and dichotomized by age below and above 45 years)

From: The impact of sex on blood pressure and anthropometry trajectories from early adulthood in a Nigerian population: insights into women’s cardiovascular disease risk across the lifespan

Variable

Female

n = 2671

Male

n = 2464

p value

Mean age ± SD, years

37.4 ± 13.3

37.7 ± 12.8

0.36

Age distribution, n (%)

 < 45 years

 ≥ 45 years

1995 (74.7)

676 (25.3)

1818 (73.8)

646 (26.2)

0.24

Mean systolic BP ± SD, mmHg

 All ages

 < 45 years

 ≥ 45 years

124.7 ± 19.6

120.3 ± 16.2

137.7 ± 22.6

128.9 ± 17.3

126.4 ± 15.1

135.6 ± 20.9

 < 0.001

 < 0.001

0.09

Mean difference (95% CI) in SBP (male v. female) for < 45 years

6.1(5.1 to 7.10)a

 < 0.0001

Mean difference (95% CI) in SBP (male v. female) for ≥ 45 years

−2.1 (−4.45 to 0.25)a

0.08

Mean difference (95% CI) in SBP (< 45 v. ≥ 45 years)

17.4 (15.8 to 19.0)

p < 0.0001

9.2 (7.7 to 10.7)

P < 0.0001

 

Mean diastolic BP ± SD, mmHg

 All ages

 < 45 years

 ≥ 45 years

80.4 ± 13.3

78.1 ± 12.4

87.1 ± 13.7

80.8 ± 13.2

78.7 ± 12.3

86.5 ± 13.8

0.29

0.12

0.44

Mean difference (95% CI) in DBP (male v. female) for < 45 years

0.60 (0.19 to 1.38)a

0.13

Mean difference (95% CI) in DBP (male v. female) for ≥ 45 years

−0.60 (−2.08 to 0.88)a

0.43

Mean difference (95% CI) in DBP (< 45 v. ≥ 45 years)

9.0 (7.9 to 10.1)

P < 0.0001

7.8 (6.7 to 8.9)

P < 0.0001

 

Mean pulse pressure ± SD, mmHg

 All ages

 < 45 years

 ≥ 45 years

44.3 ± 12.9

42.2 ± 11.2

50.6 ± 15.5

48.1 ± 12.2

47.7 ± 11.5

49.1 ± 14.1

 < 0.001

 < 0.001

0.08

Mean difference (95% CI) in PP (male v. female) for < 45 years

5.50 (4.78 to 6.22)a

 < 0.0001

Mean difference (95% CI) in PP (male v. female) for ≥ 45 years

−1.50 (−3.10 to 0.10)a

0.07

Mean difference (95% CI) in PP (< 45 v. ≥ 45 years)

8.4 (7.3 to 9.5)

P < 0.0001

1.4 (0.3 to 2.5)

P = 0.013

 

Mean waist circumference ± SD, cm

 All ages

 < 45 years

 ≥ 45 years

89.6 ± 15.0

87.6 ± 14.4

95.8 ± 14.9

84.4 ± 11.6

82.9 ± 11.1

88.6 ± 11.9

 < 0.001

 < 0.001

 < 0.001

Mean difference (95% CI) in WC (male v. female) for < 45 years

−4.70 (−5.52 to −3.88)a

 < 0.0001

Mean difference (95% CI) in WC (male v. female) for ≥ 45 years

−7.20 (−8.66 to −5.74)a

 < 0.0001

Mean difference (95% CI) in WC (< 45 v. ≥ 45 years)

8.2 (6.9 to 9.5)

P < 0.0001

5.7 (4.7 to 6.7)

P < 0.0001

 

Mean body mass index ± SD, kg/m2

 All ages

 < 45 years

 ≥ 45 years

25.0 ± 5.8

24.5 ± 5.5

26.7 ± 6.2

24.2 ± 4.9

23.9 ± 4.7

25.1 ± 5.5

 < 0.001

 < 0.001

 < 0.001

Mean difference (95% CI) in BMI (male v. female) for < 45 years

−0.60 (−0.93 to −0.27)a

0.0003

Mean difference (95% CI) in BMI (male v. female) for ≥ 45 years

−1.60 (−2.23 to −0.97)a

 < 0.0001

Mean difference (95% CI) in BMI (< 45 v. ≥ 45 years)

2.2 (1.7 to 2.7)

P < 0.0001

1.2 (0.8 to 1.6)

P < 0.0001

 
  1. PP pulse pressure; DBP diastolic blood pressure; SBP systolic blood pressure; BMI body mass index; WC waist circumference; SD standard deviation; CI confidence interval
  2. aDirection of mean difference: positive = higher male value; negative = higher female value