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Table 1 Characteristics of the US and English cohorts, age 65+, 2002

From: Cognitive health among older adults in the United States and in England

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

 
  1. 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.
  2. * P value of chi-square or t-test for a significant difference in proportion or mean between countries.
  3. † ADLs indicates Activities of Daily Living (eating, transferring, toileting, dressing, bathing, and walking across a room).
  4. ‡ IADLs indicates Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (preparing meals, grocery shopping, making phone calls, taking medications, managing money).
  5. **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]