Baseline characteristics of study participants.

Data are presented as mean (±SD) or number (percentage). Data for C-reactive protein, myeloperoxidase and triglycerides are presented as median (interquartile range). P-values are for mixed effects model with continuous variables, and for conditional logistic regression with dichotomous variables. LDL = low-density lipoprotein, HDL = high-density lipoprotein cholesterol.