To minimize the confounding effect and test for potential modification by an overall lifestyle pattern, we further performed a stratified analysis according to a priori — defined healthy lifestyle pattern, as characterized by never
smoking or ever
smoking for fewer than 5 pack - years, never or
moderate alcohol intake (< 14 g / d in women and < 28 g / d in men), body mass index (calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared) of
at least 18.5 and less than 25.0, and physical activity of
at least 150 min / wk
at a
moderate level or
at least 75 min / wk
at a vigorous
level (equivalent to ≥ 7.5 metabolic equivalent h / wk) as recommended.18 Likewise, given the previous report that protein intake was associated with a higher risk for diabetes - related mortality, 8 we examined the protein - mortality association according to the history of diabetes.