Table 1.
Overview of the main characteristics of the five cohorts included in EPOSA
| ActiFE | ProVA | LASA | Peñagrande | HCS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Country | Germany | Italy | Netherlands | Spain | UK |
| Region | Ulm | Camposampiero, Rovigo | Amsterdam, Zwolle, Oss | Peñagrande (Madrid) | Hertfordshire |
| Baseline year | 2009 | 1995-1997 | 1992-1993 | 2007-2008 | 1999-2004 |
| Number of follow-up cycles | 0 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 2 |
| Year of last follow-up cycle | - | 2002-2004 | 2008 | - | 2007 |
| Sample size at baseline | 1506 | 3099 | 3107 | 814 | 3225 |
| Recruitment criteria | Random selection from municipality registries, aged 65 years and older, stratified for age and sex | Random selection from health district registries, aged 65 years and older, stratified for age and sex | Random selection from municipality registries stratified for age, sex and 5 years mortality rate | Random selection from municipality registries stratified for age and sex | Participants were born during 1931-1939 in Hertfordshire, and still lived there during 1998-2003 |
| Baseline age-range (years) | 65+ | 65+ | 55-85 | 65+ | 60-72 |
| Baseline age (years, mean (SD)) | 74.7 (6.5) | 76.4 (7.8) | 70.8 (8.8) | 77 (7.6) | 67.4 (1.9) |
| Sex (% female) | 43.5 | 59.9 | 57.6 | 51,5 | 47.3 |
| Education (% secondary education or higher) | 20.4 | 11.8 | 61.1 | 19.8 | 5.2 |
| Marital status (% married) | 65.2 | 50.0 | 53.3 | 63.4 | 77.8 |
ActiFE: study on Activity and Function in the Elderly in Ulm, ProVA: Progetto Veneto Anziani study, LASA: Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam, Peñagrande: Ageing in Peñagrande, HCS: Hertfordshire Cohort Study.