Clinical characteristics of study participants.

Values are means (SD) unless otherwise indicated.All clinical assessments were performed using uniform standards in each population.Blood samples were taken after ≥6 hours fast in the Amagasaki panel; without setting strict fasting condition in the Fukuoka panel.aSince the questionnaire did not differeniate the category of chance drinker from that of current drinker, the corresponding subjects are combined for the category of current drinker in the Fukuoka panel.bHbA1c was measured for 1,288 subjects in the Amagasaki panel; for all participants in the Fukuoka panel.cLDL cholesterol was calculated in the Amagasaki panel using the Friedewald formula, with missing values assigned to individuals with triglycerides >400 mg/dl. Since blood samples were taken without setting strict fasting condition, the values of LDL cholesterol and the prevalence of dyslipidemia are not shown for the Fukuoka panel.dHypertension is defined when systolic blood pressure ≥140 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure ≥90 mmHg, or taking antihypertensive medication. Diabetes is defined when fasting plasma glucose ≥7.0 mmol/l and/or HbA1c ≥6.5%, or taking blood glucose lowering medication. Dyslipidemia is defined according to the Japan Atherosclerosis Society Guidelines (Teramoto et al. J Atheroscler Thromb 14∶155–158, 2007).