TABLE 1.
Distribution of Sociodemographic Variables among US Black and White Married Couples, Aged 67 to 98 Years, by Sample Source: 1993 Medicare-Based Sample and 5% Public Use Micro Sample of the 1990 US Census
| Variables | Medicare (n = 373 189) | Census (n = 272 306) |
| Mean age, y | ||
| Husband | 76.6 | 75.4 |
| Wife | 74.2 | 73.1 |
| Wives older than husband, % | 21.0 | 19.5 |
| Black race, % | 4.2 | 4.8 |
| Poor,a % | 4.7 | 5.6 |
| Census Region of Residence,b % | ||
| Northeast | 18.8 | 21.3 |
| Midwest | 29.5 | 25.8 |
| South | 36.6 | 34.0 |
| West | 15.2 | 18.9 |
a
Medicare-based sample uses dual eligibility for Medicare and Medicaid as proxy for the federal poverty level. Census uses 1990 federal poverty level.
b
We combined the 9 census divisions used in the statistical analysis into 4 census regions to conserve space.