HRs were calculated by using time-varying Cox proportional hazards models.
Sodium score was derived according to an empirical quintile cut-off in the repeated dietary assessment, so the unit was not available.
Alcohol score was derived using prespecified cut-off, so only range was available.
*The AHEI-2010 score is reversely coded for red meat, sugar-sweetened beverages, trans fat and sodium: higher score means lower intake. The AHEI-2010 score is directly coded for nuts, vegetables, fruits, polyunsaturated fat, alcohol, whole grain and long-chain (n-3) fats: higher score means higher intake.
†p for trend was derived from tests of linear trend across categories of AHEI scores by treating the median value of each category as a continuous variable.
‡Adjustment for age, cohort, smoking (never, past, current 1–14 cigarettes/day, current ≥15 cigarettes/day), age at menarche (<12, 12, >12 years), parity and breast feeding (nulliparous, parous/no breast feeding, parous/1–12 months breast feeding, parous/>12 months breast feeding), hormone use (premenopausal, postmenopausal with never use, current use and past use) and total energy (quintiles).
§Additional adjustment for BMI (<20, 20–22.9, 23–24.9, 25–29.9, ≥30 kg/m2).
AHEI-2010, 2010 Alternative Healthy Eating Index; BMI, body mass index; DHA, docosahexaenoic acid; EHA, eicosapentaenoic acid; RA, rheumatoid arthritis.