Table 1.
Characteristics of the US and English cohorts, age 65+, 2002
| Variable |
US (N = 8,299) |
England (N = 5,276) |
P value* |
| Age | .07 | ||
| 65 – 74 | 51.2 | 54.0 | |
| 75 – 84 | 38.4 | 35.9 | |
| ≥ 85 | 10.4 | 10.2 | |
| Mean ± SE | 75.0 ± .14 | 74.7 ± .12 | .06 |
| Gender | <.001 | ||
| Male | 40.5 | 42.9 | |
| Female | 59.5 | 57.1 | |
| Education** | <.001 | ||
| Low | 61.3 | 70.7 | |
| Middle | 18.9 | 10.9 | |
| High | 19.8 | 18.4 | |
| Net worth (2002 US Dollars) | .01 | ||
| ≤ $83,000 | 29.0 | 33.5 | |
| $83,001 – $318,000 | 34.9 | 33.1 | |
| > $318,000 | 36.1 | 33.4 | |
| Mean ± SE | 357,700 ± 17,500 | 251,800 ± 6,400 | <.001 |
| Chronic Conditions | |||
| Stroke | 8.0 | 6.9 | .03 |
| Diabetes | 16.4 | 9.0 | <.001 |
| Heart disease | 30.9 | 28.6 | .01 |
| Hypertension | 56.6 | 44.8 | <.001 |
| Lung disease | 11.3 | 8.1 | <.001 |
| Cancer | 17.6 | 8.0 | <.001 |
| # of ADLs† impaired | <.001 | ||
| 0 | 77.9 | 71.9 | |
| 1 – 3 | 19.2 | 24.4 | |
| 4 – 6 | 2.9 | 3.7 | |
| Mean ± SE | .44 ± .02 | .55 ± .02 | <.001 |
| # of IADLs‡ impaired | <.001 | ||
| 0 | 86.5 | 82.6 | |
| 1 – 3 | 12.4 | 16.3 | |
| 4 – 5 | 1.1 | 1.1 | |
| Mean ± SE | .23 ± .01 | .28 ± .01 | .001 |
| CES-D (Depressive symptoms) | <.001 | ||
| 0 | 43.6 | 36.6 | |
| 1 – 3 | 41.8 | 45.9 | |
| 4 – 8 | 14.6 | 17.5 | |
| Mean ± SE | 1.5 ± .04 | 1.7 ± .03 | <.001 |
| Treatment with medications: | |||
| Hypertension | (n = 4,664) | (n = 2,368) | |
| 90.5 | 84.9 | <.001 | |
| Diabetes | (n = 1,389) | (n = 480) | |
| No diabetes treatment | 19.7 | 26.5 | .003 |
| Only oral medication | 62.4 | 54.2 | |
| Insulin +/- oral med | 17.9 | 19.3 | |
| Alcohol intake (days/week) | <.001 | ||
| 0 | 53.9 | 15.5 | |
| < 1 | 15.2 | 33.5 | |
| >1 to 2 | 13.7 | 24.3 | |
| >2 | 17.2 | 26.6 | |
| Smoking Status | <.001 | ||
| Never | 42.8 | 35.2 | |
| Former | 47.7 | 52.5 | |
| Current | 9.5 | 12.3 | |
Values are weighted percentages or means derived using the HRS and ELSA respondent population weights to adjust for the complex sampling design of each survey.
* P value of chi-square or t-test for a significant difference in proportion or mean between countries.
† ADLs indicates Activities of Daily Living (eating, transferring, toileting, dressing, bathing, and walking across a room).
‡ IADLs indicates Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (preparing meals, grocery shopping, making phone calls, taking medications, managing money).
**Education categories – US: Low- ≤ 12 years of school; Mid- 13 to 15 years; High- ≥ 16 years. England: Low- lower than "O-level" (typically 0 to 11 years of school); Mid- "O-level" to lower than "A-level" (typically 12 to 13 years); High- "A-level" or higher (typically > 13 years). Categories based on Banks et al 2006. [2]