Distribution (percentage/mean) of all the variables in the analysis, observations (n) across ELSA waves 2–6 among respondents with walking speed data
| Variables | %/Mean (SD) | Observations (n) across six waves | Variables | %/Mean (SD) | Observations (n) across six waves |
| Walking speed (m/s) | 0.9 (0.3) | 29 894 | Urban/rural | ||
| Chair stands | Urban | 72.6% | 21 679 | ||
| Could not complete test | 17.5% | 2780 | Town | 12.6% | 3771 |
| Completed test slower | 45.8% | 7288 | Village | 10.8% | 3213 |
| Completed test faster | 36.8% | 5857 | Hamlet | 4.0% | 1198 |
| Frequency of public transport use | Marital status | ||||
| Every day or nearly every day | 8.5% | 2540 | Married | 65.0% | 19 429 |
| Two or three times a week | 14.4% | 4300 | Separated/divorced | 9.8% | 2923 |
| Once a week | 11.2% | 3342 | Widowed | 20.5% | 6117 |
| No use: no need | 27.9% | 8337 | Never married | 4.8% | 1421 |
| No use: health problems | 5.5% | 1631 | Mobility difficulties | ||
| No use: structural reasons | 32.6% | 9741 | None | 40.7% | 12 155 |
| Age | 70.5 (7.7) | 29 894 | 1 to 3 | 37.6% | 11 233 |
| Gender | ≥4 | 21.8% | 6502 | ||
| Man | 45.9% | 13 728 | Functional status (ADLs) | ||
| Woman | 54.1% | 16 166 | No limitation | 82.1% | 24 538 |
| Wealth quintiles | At least 1 limitation | 17.9% | 5355 | ||
| Poorest | 16.4% | 4660 | CES-D depression score | 1.3 (1.8) | 29 579 |
| 2nd | 18.8% | 5327 | Physical activity | ||
| 3rd | 21.2% | 5999 | Sedentary | 5.0% | 1503 |
| fourth | 21.6% | 6135 | Low | 26.1% | 7770 |
| Richest | 22.0% | 6245 | Moderate | 51.1% | 15 236 |
| Employment status | High | 17.8% | 5321 | ||
| Employed | 16.8% | 5010 | Smoking status | ||
| Retired | 74.0% | 22 081 | Never smoked | 36.6% | 10 931 |
| Other | 9.2% | 2748 | Ex-smoker | 52.1% | 15 551 |
| Social class | Current smoker | 11.2% | 3351 | ||
| Managerial | 32.2% | 9458 | Date/Day orientation | ||
| Intermediate | 14.0% | 4093 | All dates/day incorrect | 0.7% | 198 |
| Self-employed | 11.7% | 3434 | 3 incorrect | 0.6% | 192 |
| Lower supervisory | 10.5% | 3083 | 2 incorrect | 1.9% | 579 |
| Semi-routine | 31.6% | 9270 | 1 incorrect | 17.9% | 5357 |
| Cohabiting status | All dates/day correct | 78.8% | 23 548 | ||
| Living alone | 33.2% | 9909 | Access to car | ||
| Living with partner | 66.9% | 19 985 | Yes access to car | 83.4% | 24 944 |
| Memory test (n of words) | 9.9 (3.6) | 29 833 | No access to car | 16.6% | 4950 |
ADLs, activities of daily living; CES-D, Center for Epidemiologic Study; ELSA, English Longitudinal Study of Ageing.