Table 1. Characteristics of Hertfordshire Ageing Study (HAS) participants.
| Mean (SD) | Men (n=172) | Women (n=120) |
|---|---|---|
| 1994/5 | ||
| Age (yrs) | 67.1 (2.3) | 67.2 (2.1) |
| Maximum grip strength (kg) | 39.5 (6.0) | 23.0 (5.4) |
| Social class: I-IIINM+ | 83 (49%) | 50 (42%) |
| 2003/05 | ||
| Age (yrs) | 76.5 (2.3) | 76.2 (2.1) |
| Follow-up time (yrs)* | 9.6 (9.0, 9.8) | 9.1 (8.7, 9.4) |
| Maximum grip strength (kg) | 38.4 (8.1) | 23.7 (6.6) |
| Annualised change in grip strength (kg/yr) | -0.12 (0.71) | 0.08 (0.54) |
| Height (cm) | 171.4 (6.3) | 158.2 (5.5) |
| Weight (kg) | 81.3 (13.9) | 69.9 (13.7) |
| Smoking status+: Never | 56 (33%) | 51 (43%) |
| Ex | 100 (58%) | 61 (51%) |
| Current | 16 (9%) | 8 (7%) |
| High weekly alcohol intake+ (≥22M; ≥15F units per week) | 16 (9%) | 7 (6%) |
| Walking speed (self-reported)+: Slow/Stroll | 75 (44%) | 59 (50%) |
| Normal speed | 71 (41%) | 40 (34%) |
| Brisk/Fast | 26 (15%) | 20 (17%) |
| Number of systems medicated* | 2.0 (1.0, 3.0) | 2.0 (1.0, 3.0) |
| Fracture since 45 years age+ | 19 (11%) | 35 (29%) |
| Stroke/TIA+ | 18 (11%) | 7 (6%) |
| Hypertension+ | 116 (67%) | 71 (59%) |
| Deaths between 2003/05 follow-up and 13/01/2011+ | 42 (24%) | 21 (18%) |
+
n(%);
*
Median (Lower quartile, Upper quartile); SD: standard deviation; Yr: year; I-IIINM: classes I to III non-manual of registrar general’s social class coded to the SOC90 classification of occupations of most recent full-time occupation and with social class for ever married women assigned the social class of their husband; M: males; F: females; TIA: transient ischaemic attack