| Variable | RoI* | NI* | RoI, n (%) | NI, n (%) | p Value | Difference (95% CI) |
| Smoking | ||||||
| Smoking status recorded previous year | 536 | 315 | 118 (22.0) | 265 (84.1) | <0.001 | −62.1 (−67.0 to −56.3) |
| Smoking status ever recorded | 587 | 315 | 448 (76.3) | 312 (99.0) | <0.001 | −22.7 (−26.4 to −19.0) |
| Recorded as smoker (most recent record) | 449 | 299 | 76 (16.9) | 40 (13.4) | 0.19 | 3.5 (−1.8 to 8.6) |
| Smoker (self-report) | 571 | 301 | 79 (13.8) | 51 (16.9) | 0.22 | −3.1 (−8.4 to 1.8) |
| Diet (DINE questionnaire) | ||||||
| Mean fat score (SD) | 537 | 277 | 31.2 (10.4) | 30.5 (9.6) | 0.33 | 0.7 (−0.7 to 2.2) |
| Low fat category | 537 | 277 | 274 (51.0) | 141 (50.9) | 0.97 | 0.1 (−7.1 to 7.3) |
| Medium fat category | 537 | 277 | 165 (30.7) | 95 (34.3) | 0.30 | −3.6 (−10.4 to 3.1) |
| High fat category | 537 | 277 | 98 (18.2) | 41 (14.8) | 0.22 | 3.4 (−2.1 to 8.5) |
| Mean unsaturated fat score (SD) | 559 | 299 | 6.8 (3.4) | 6.7 (3.7) | 0.44 | 0.2 (−0.3 to 0.7) |
| Low unsaturated fat category | 559 | 299 | 220 (39.4) | 126 (42.1) | 0.43 | −2.8 (−9.7 to 4.0) |
| Medium unsaturated fat category | 559 | 299 | 225 (40.3) | 104 (34.8) | 0.12 | 5.5 (−1.4 to 12.1) |
| High unsaturated fat category | 559 | 299 | 114 (20.4) | 69 (23.1) | 0.36 | −2.7 (−8.7 to 3.0) |
| Mean fibre score (SD) | 570 | 291 | 36.6 (12.4) | 33.2 (11.6) | <0.001 | 3.4 (1.7 to 5.2) |
| Low fibre category | 570 | 291 | 173 (30.4) | 122 (41.9) | 0.001 | −11.6 (−18.4 to −4.8) |
| Medium fibre category | 570 | 291 | 195 (34.2) | 101 (34.7) | 0.88 | −0.5 (−7.3 to 6.1) |
| High fibre category | 570 | 291 | 202 (35.4) | 68 (23.4) | <0.001 | 12.1 (5.6 to 18.1) |
| Fresh fruit/vegetables: 5+ portions per day | 568 | 292 | 63 (11.1) | 40 (13.7) | 0.26 | −2.6 (−7.6 to 1.9) |
| Physical activity (Godin questionnaire) | ||||||
| Mean Godin activity score (SD) | 352 | 189 | 23.2 (19.6) | 16.2 (17.7) | <0.001 | 7.1 (3.8 to 10.3) |
| Godin activity score >23.9† | 352 | 189 | 125 (35.5) | 37 (19.6) | <0.001 | 15.9 (8.0 to 23.1) |
| Exercises at least 15 min >3 times per week | 563 | 294 | 349 (62.0) | 130 (44.2) | <0.001 | 17.8 (10.8 to 24.6) |
| Quality of life | ||||||
| SF-12 Physical function score, mean (SD) | 494 | 268 | 41.3 (10.5) | 36.3 (11.6) | <0.001 | 5.0 (3.4 to 6.7) |
| SF-12 Mental function score, mean (SD) | 494 | 268 | 50.6 (10.2) | 46.0 (11.3) | <0.001 | 4.6 (2.9 to 6.2) |
*Number of valid responses; †score of 24 or more on Godin Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire represents an active lifestyle, associated with substantial health benefits (Gaston Godin, personal communication, 30 August 2007).
NI, Northern Ireland; RoI, Republic of Ireland.