Table 1.
Characteristics of Participants in Study on Mexican American Couples Aged 65 Years and Older (n = 553 couples)a
| Characteristic | Husband | Wife |
|---|---|---|
| Age, mean years (SD) | 73.9 (6.3) | 70.9 (5.2) |
| Education, mean years (SD) | 5.2 (3.9) | 5.2 (3.9) |
| U.S. nativity | 58 | 62 |
| Systolic blood pressure ≥140 mm Hg | 31 | 33 |
| Diastolic blood pressure ≥90 mm Hg | 21 | 20 |
| BMI ≥30 kg/m2 | 21 | 37 |
| Current smoker | 15 | 7 |
| Current alcohol consumer | 20 | 4 |
| Heart condition | 13 | 7 |
| Stroke | 8 | 5 |
| Hypertension | 34 | 45 |
| Diabetes | 25 | 24 |
| Arthritis | 30 | 46 |
| Cancer | 6 | 5 |
a
Source is Hispanic Established Populations for the Epidemiologic Studies of the Elderly, 1993–1994 (20). Numbers are percentages unless otherwise indicated.