Table 1 Key baseline characteristics of sample

Age, years, median (IQR)

54.42 (54.33, 55.00)

54.42 (54.33, 60.08)

54.42 (54.25, 54.50)

54.42 (54.33, 54.75)

Smoker, n (%)

20 (32.79)

13 (22.03)

15 (25.00)

48 (26.67)

Education level, n (%)

 Elementary school with vocational school or below

58 (95.08)

54 (91.52)

56 (93.33)

168 (93.33)

 Junior high and above

3 (4.92)

5 (8.47)

4 (6.67)

12 (6.67)

Annual income Euro, median, (IQR)

8,074 (4,878, 13,036)

7,569 (5,382, 12,111)

7,401 (4,962, 11,606)

7,569 (5,046, 12,111)

Marital status, married, n (%)

51 (83.61)

52 (88.14)

51 (85.00)

154 (85.56)

BMI, median, (IQR)

27.16 (26.01, 30.74)

27.53 (25.83, 29.25)

29.95 (27.04, 31.88)

28.17 (26.09, 30.63)

Family history of CVD, n (%)

55 (90.16)

54 (91.53)

57 (95.00)

166 (92.22)

Currently taking medications, n (%)

 Hypertensives

45 (73.77)

40 (67.80)

41 (68.33)

126 (70.00)

 Diuretics

19 (31.15)

17 (28.81)

26 (43.33)

62 (34.44)

 High cholesterol

1 (1.64)

1 (1.69)

1 (1.67)

3 (1.67)

 Beta blocking agents

39 (64.00)

37 (62.71)

31 (51.67)

107 (59.44)

Diuretics class, n (%)

 Hydrochlorothiazide and potassium-sparing agents

1 (1.64) *

5 (8.47) *

2 (3.33) *

8 (4.44)*

 Hydrochlorothiazide

–

–

3 (5.00)*

3 (1.67)*

 Furosemide and potassium-sparing agents

1 (1.64)*

–

2 (3.33)*

3 (1.67)*

 Furosemide

1 (1.64)*

1 (1.69)*

3 (5.00)*

5 (2.78)*

 Triamterene

–

1 (1.69)*

–

1 (0.56)*

Medical conditions, n (%)

 Diabetes (T1DM and T2DM)

9 (14.75)

7 (11.86)

11 (18.33)

27 (15.00)

 Hypertension

45 (75.00)

38 (65.52)

33 (56.90)

116 (65.91)