Methods
Participants were a part of the Rancho Bernardo Heart
and Chronic Disease Study, a population-based study designed
to examine lifestyle and chronic disease patterns in
older adults. All surviving members of the cohort who were
between 40 and 84 years of age when first seen in 1972-74
were invited to participate in 1984-87, and 80 percent did so.
Height and weight were measured with participants in light
clothing without shoes; obesity was estimated using body
mass index (kg/M2). Data on current exercise habits, current
and past smoking history, current alcohol consumption,
hours of nightly sleep, and use of non-contraceptive estrogens
(women only) were determined by a standardized
interview administered by trained personnel. Coffee intake
and diet data were ascertained as part of a self-administered