Table 5

Mortality ratios (95% confidence intervals) for all countries (stratified by country) by category of modified Mediterranean diet score in 74 607 participants in EPIC-elderly study

Fully adjusted mortality ratio*No of deathsMean score (95% CI)Diet score 4-5P value for heterogeneityDiet score 6-9P value for heterogeneity2 unit incrementP value for heterogeneity
Non-calibrated:
Fixed effects40474.33 (4.31 to 4.34)0.91 (0.85 to 0.98)0.0750.83 (0.75 to 0.93)0.6580.92 (0.88 to 0.96)0.328
Random effects4.33 (4.31 to 4.34)0.95 (0.85 to 1.07)0.83 (0.75 to 0.93)0.92 (0.88 to 0.97)
Calibrated:
Fixed effects40474.45 (4.44 to 4.46)0.93 (0.87 to 1.01)0.7420.91 (0.82 to 1.01)0.3760.93 (0.89 to 0.98)0.091
Random effects4.45 (4.44 to 4.46)0.93 (0.87 to 1.01)0.91 (0.82 to 1.02)0.93 (0.88 to 0.99)
  • EPIC=European prospective investigation into cancer and nutrition.

  • * Adjusted for sex, age (60-64, 65-69, 70-74, and ≷75, categorically), diabetes mellitus at baseline (yes, no), waist to hip ratio (in ordered fifths), body mass index (in ordered fifths), educational achievement (none or primary school, technical school, secondary school, university degree, categorically), smoking status (never, former, and four categories of current smoker (cigarettes per day): 1-10, 11-20, 21-30, and >30, ordered), physical activity at work (retired or sedentary occupation, standing occupation, manual work, and heavy manual work, categorically), physical activity at leisure (in centre and sex specific thirds, categorically), consumption of potatoes (continuously), consumption of eggs (continuously), consumption of sugar and confectionery (continuously), and total energy intake (in ordered fifths).

  • † Reference category diet score 0-3.