Clinical variables

BMI was defined as subject weight in kilograms (kg) divided by the square of height in meters (m²) and was measured at each health examination. Based on baseline BMI, subjects were classified as underweight (BMI less than 18.5 kg/m²), normal weight (BMI 18.6–22.9 kg/m²), overweight (BMI 23.0–24.9 kg/m²), or obese (BMI greater than 25.0 kg/m²).[16] Systolic and diastolic blood pressures were also measured at each visit. Serum samples for fasting glucose and total cholesterol were obtained after overnight fasting at each examination visit. A detailed history of smoking status and alcohol consumption were obtained via questionnaire. The latter two measures were categorized for the purpose of this study according to current, former, or never for smoking status and drinker or non-drinker for alcohol intake.

Medical history of participants was identified using a combination of the following: clinical and pharmacy code of the 10^th revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10), lists of prescribed medicine, and previous medical histories. To identify hypertension and diabetic mellitus status, laboratory data were utilized in addition to medical records and health examination survey results based on the criteria of systolic blood pressure (SBP) ≥140 mm Hg or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) ≥90 mm Hg for hypertension and fasting serum glucose ≥126 mg/dL for diabetic mellitus. The laboratory and survey questionnaire data of general and life-transition health examinations for all cohort members were merged.