Table 1. Age, smoking, BMI, fat free mass, LTPA and leukocyte telomere length distribution among former athletes and their controls in the clinical study in 2008. Endurance n=64 Mixed n=221 Power n=107 All athletes n=392 Controls n=207 Mean age (SD), years p-value n 75.3 (5.5) <.001 64 71.9 (6.0) 1.000 221 72.8 (6.2) .246 107 72.7 (6.1) .024 392 71.6 (5.6) 207 Smokers % (n) p-value n 3.1(2) .153 64 6.8(15) .363 221 2.9(3) .039 104 5.1(20) .014 389 10.4(21) 201 Mean BMI kg/m2 (SD) p-value n 25.0 (3.3) <.001 64 26.1 (3.3) .090 221 28.2 (4.7) .003 107 26.5 (3.9) .285 392 26.8 (3.4) 207 Mean age-adjusted fat free mass (SD) p-value n 57.3 (5.4) .624 57 62.3 (6.5) <.001 214 61.8 (10.9) .003 104 61.4 (8.1) <.001 376 59.4 (6.0) 205 Mean age-adjusted LTPA (SD), METh/wk, p-value n 42.8 (36.6) <.001 62 31.0 (27.3) <.001 219 25.2 (23.2) .252 102 31.4 (28.5) <.001 383 20.5(21.7) 201 Mean LTL (SD) p-value Age-adjusted p-value n Covariate-adjusted p-value n .77 (.13) 1.000 1.000 62 1.000 50 .78 (.14) 1.000 1.000 215 1.000 195 .77 (.12) 1.000 1.000 104 1.000 86 .77 (0.13) .666 .845 381 .721 331 .78 (.13) 205 183 Pablercentage differences were tested using cross-tabulation and Chi-Square test. Means were compared by one-way ANOVA, and post hoc tests by Bonferroni correction. Ad. justing with other variables was done by general linear model. endurance = long and middle distance running, cross country skiing; mixed = soccer, ice hockey, basketball, track and field: jumpers, sprinters, hurdles, decathletes; power = boxing, wrestling, weight lifting, track and field throwers; BMI = body mass index; LTPA = leisure time physical activity; METh/wk = metabolic equivalent-hours/week; LTL = leukocyte telomere length. Covariate-adjusted for age, fat free mass, LTPA, smoking, alcohol intake, high sensitive C-reactive protein, educational attainment and marital status. p-values are compared to controls.