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. 2016 Feb 17;57(4):757–766. doi: 10.1093/geront/gnw011

Table 1.

Baseline Characteristics of Homeless Adults Aged 50 and Older in Oakland, CA (N = 350), by Living Environment

Characteristic All participants (n = 350) Unsheltered (n = 162) Multiple location users (n = 88) Cohabiters (n = 57) Recently homeless (n = 43) P valuea
Sociodemographics
 Age, median years (IQR) 58 (54, 61) 57 (54, 61) 58 (54, 61) 56 (53, 61) 59 (56, 63) 0.07
 Male, No. (%) 270 (77.1) 139 (85.8) 71 (80.7) 31 (54.4) 29 (67.4) <.001
 Race/ethnicity, No. (%) 0.39
 African American 278 (79.7) 133 (82.1) 71 (80.7) 45 (79.0) 30 (69.8)
 White 38 (10.9) 16 (9.9) 10 (11.4) 4 (7.0) 8 (18.6)
 Latino 16 (4.6) 8 (4.9) 4 (4.6) 3 (5.3) 1 (2.3)
 Other 17 (4.9) 5 (3.1) 3 (3.4) 3 (8.8) 4 (9.3)
 Currently married or partnered, No. (%) 30 (8.6) 13 (8.0) 8 (9.1) 5 (8.8) 4 (9.3) 0.12
 Less than high school education, No. (%) 90 (25.7) 45 (27.8) 24 (27.3) 12 (21.1) 9 (20.9) 0.87
 First episode of adult homelessness age 50 or older, No. (%) 152 (43.6) 58 (35.8) 34 (38.6) 32 (56.1) 26 (60.5) .003
Health status
 Fair or poor, No. (%) 195 (55.7) 97 (60.0) 45 (51.1) 27 (47.4) 26 (60.5) 0.27
 Chronic medical conditions, No. (%)
 Hypertension 195 (56.0) 85 (52.5) 58 (66.7) 31 (55.4) 21 (48.8) 0.12
 Coronary artery disease or myocardial infarction 32 (9.1) 15 (9.3) 6 (6.8) 6 (10.5) 5 (11.6) 0.79
 Congestive heart failure 25 (7.1) 12 (7.4) 5 (5.7) 4 (7.0) 4 (9.3) 0.90
 Diabetes 49 (14.0) 16 (9.9) 15 (17.1) 11 (19.3) 7 (16.7) 0.21
 Stroke 39 (11.2) 12 (7.5) 15 (17.1) 9 (15.8) 3 (7.0) 0.06
 Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or asthma 92 (26.3) 41 (25.3) 25 (28.4) 17 (29.8) 9 (20.1) 0.73
 Arthritis 156 (44.6) 71 (43.8) 46 (52.3) 27 (47.4) 12 (27.9) 0.07
 HIV/AIDS 19 (5.5) 5 (3.1) 8 (9.4) 2 (3.6) 4 (9.8) 0.11
Mental health status
 History of mental health problem, No. (%)b 249 (71.3) 115 (71.4) 65 (73.9) 44 (77.2) 25 (58.1) 0.18
 History of psychiatric hospitalization, No. (%) 66 (18.9) 27 (16.7) 21 (23.9) 9 (15.8) 9 (20.9) 0.49
Health-related behaviors
 Current smoker, No. (%) 229 (65.4) 114 (70.4) 53 (60.2) 35 (61.4) 27 (62.8) 0.46
 Alcohol use problem, lifetime, No. (%)c 206 (59.5) 92 (57.9) 56 (64.4) 32 (56.1) 26 (60.5) 0.73
 Alcohol use problem, past 6 months, No. (%)d 90 (25.8) 51 (31.7) 17 (19.3) 15 (26.3) 7 (16.3) 0.08
 Illicit drug use problem, lifetime, No. (%)e 206 (58.9) 98 (60.5) 53 (60.2) 30 (52.6) 25 (58.1) 0.76
 Illicit drug use problem, past 6 months, No. (%)f 177 (50.6) 91 (56.2) 43 (48.9) 28 (49.1) 15 (34.5) 0.09
Health service use and access
 Has regular location to obtain health care, No. (%) 252 (72.0) 108 (66.7) 74 (84.1) 42 (73.7) 28 (65.1) 0.02

a P value calculated using Kruskal–Wallis nonparametric test for comparison of medians and chi-square tests for comparison of proportions.

bHistory of mental health problems defined as self-reported history of serious anxiety, depression, trouble controlling violent behavior, hallucinations that were not a result of substance use; had attempted suicide; or had been prescribed medication by a doctor for psychiatric or emotional problems.

cLife-time alcohol use problem defined a self-reported history of drinking to get drunk three or more times a week.

dAlcohol use problem, past 6 months defined as an Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test score ≥8 (range 0–20; higher scores indicate more problems).

eLifetime drug use problem defined as self-reported use of drugs three or more times a week.

fDrug use problem, past 6 months defined as a World Health Organization Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test score for either cocaine, amphetamines, or opioids of ≥4 (range 0–39; higher scores indicate more problems).