| All subjects | Low cured meat intake ≤22.68 g·day−1 | High cured meat intake >22.68 g·day−1 | p-value# | |
| Subjects n | 274 | 138 | 136 | |
| Male | 255 (93) | 133 (96) | 122 (90) | 0.030 |
| Age yrs | 68±8 | 69±7 | 67±10 | 0.012 |
| Primary or higher education | 163 (59) | 77 (56) | 86 (63) | 0.210 |
| Active worker | 46 (17) | 15 (11) | 31 (23) | 0.008 |
| Low socioeconomic status¶ | 208 (82) | 105 (82) | 103 (82) | 0.953 |
| BMI kg·m−2 | 0.055 | |||
| <20 | 6 (2) | 2 (1) | 4 (3) | |
| ≥20 and <25 | 53 (19) | 21 (15) | 32 (24) | |
| ≥25 and <30 | 114 (42) | 54 (39) | 60 (44) | |
| ≥30 | 101 (37) | 61 (44) | 40 (29) | |
| FFMI kg·m−2 | 19.8±3.1 | 20.2±3.1 | 19.4±3.1 | 0.025 |
| ≥2 comorbidities+ | 152 (55) | 75 (54) | 77 (57) | 0.705 |
| Dyspnoea score§ | 2 (2–3) | 2 (2–3) | 2 (2–3) | 0.402 |
| Post-bronchodilator FEV1 % pred | 53±16 | 52±15 | 54±16 | 0.430 |
| Pa,O2 mmHg | 75±11 | 75±11 | 75±11 | 0.998 |
| DL,CO % pred | 66±21 | 68±20 | 64±21 | 0.110 |
| Current smokers | 114 (42) | 48 (35) | 66 (49) | 0.021 |
| Regular physical activity kcal·week−1 | 6709±5160 | 6328±4581 | 7094±5678 | 0.220 |
| Daily energy intake kcal·day−1 | 2026±611 | 1819±535 | 2237±612 | <0.001 |
| Total cured meat intake g·day−1 | 23 (11–34) | 11 (5–17) | 34 (27–44) | <0.001 |
| Ham | 8.6 (0–8.6) | 0 (0–8.6) | 8.6 (8.6–20) | <0.001 |
| Spanish cured ham | 8.6 (2.7–8.6) | 2.7 (0–8.6) | 8.6 (8.6–8.6) | <0.001 |
| Cured sausages | 2.4 (0–7.8) | 0 (0–2.4) | 7.8 (2.4–7.8) | <0.001 |
| Other sausages | 0 (0–3.2) | 0 (0–0) | 3.2 (0–10) | <0.001 |
| Hot dogs | 0 (0–0) | 0 (0–0) | 0 (0–0) | <0.001 |
| Fruit intake g·day−1 | 242 (159–355) | 221 (148–363) | 261 (185–355) | 0.142 |
| Vegetable intake g·day−1 | 282 (208–372) | 251 (176–355) | 312 (236–388) | 0.001 |
| Fish intake g·day−1 | 55 (36–91) | 55 (36–91) | 55 (36–91) | 0.724 |
Data are presented as n (%), mean±sdor median (interquartile range), unless otherwise stated. BMI: body mass index; FFMI: fat-free mass index; FEV1: forced expiratory volume in 1 s; % pred: % predicted; Pa,O2: arterial oxygen tension; DL,CO: diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide. #: Chi-squared test, t-test or Mann–Whitney U-test as appropriate; ¶: skilled or unskilled manual workers classified as low socioeconomic status; +: Charlson index; §: Modified Medical Research Council score 0–5.