Demographic characteristics of the study participants in the three study populations.

Hyperchol: hypercholesterolemia.SHEEP: hypertension defined as blood pressure >140/90 mmHg and/or self-reported and/or antihypertensive drug treatment; diabetes defined as glucose levels>6.7mmol/L and/or insulin or hypoglycemic drugs; smoking defined as current smoking in the past two years; hypercholestesterolemia defined as serum level of total cholesterol ≥6.46 mmol/L and/or treatment with lipid lowering drugs; obesity defined as body mass index>30kg/m2.PROCARDIS: hypertension defined as blood pressure >140/90 mmHg and/or self-reported and/or antihypertensive drug treatment; diabetes defined as self-reported, glucose levels>7.0mmol/L and/or insulin or hypoglycemic drugs; hypercholestesterolemia defined as serum level of total cholesterol ≥6.46 mmol/L and/or treatment with lipid lowering drugs; obesity defined as body mass index>30kg/m2.IMPROVE: hypertension and hypercholesterolemia were self-reported at the time of enrollment; diabetes defined as self reported and/or glucose levels>7.0mmol/L and/or insulin or hypoglycemic drugs; smoking defined as current smokers; obesity defined as body mass index>30kg/m2Demographic characteristics of the study participants in the three study populations.