Table 1 Comparisons of demographic profiles and prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors between the community-dwelling older population in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland*.
|  | Overall sample (n = 2, 033) | Republic of Ireland (n = 1, 033) | Northern Ireland (n = 1,000) | Difference between regions(χ2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Age, mean (SD) (range) | 74.1 (6.8) (65–102) | 74.3 (6.8) (65–102) | 75.3 (7.0) (65–99) | p < 0.01 |
Gender: Women, % (N) | 57% (1,171) | 56% (578) | 58% (580) | p = 0.38, NS |
Education (> 14 years full-time), % (N) | 36% (748) | 42% (440) | 31% (308) | p < 0.0001 |
Self-reported risk factors: % (N) | Â | Â | Â | Â |
- past smoker | 36% (729) | 41% (432) | 30% (297) | p < 0.0001 |
- current smoker | 17% (358) | 17% (178) | 18% (180) | p = 0.49, NS |
- history of heart disease | 25% (508) | 21% (216) | 29% (292) | p < 0.0001 |
- prior stroke | 6% (121) | 4% (45) | 8% (76) | p < 0.01 |