Main characteristics of the sample broken down by year of birth
| Characteristics | Years of birth cohort | P value* | ||
| ≤1935 (N=9738) | 1936–1945 (N=9254) | >1945 (N=9865) | ||
| Female, n (%) | 5407 (55.50) | 4879 (52.70) | 5382 (54.60) | <0.001 |
| Age, mean (SD) | 74.40 (5.94) | 61.30 (2.95) | 52.10 (2.58) | <0.001 |
| Marital status, n (%) | <0.001 | |||
| Single | 452 (4.64) | 468 (5.06) | 638 (6.47) | |
| Married | 5832 (59.90) | 7343 (79.30) | 8051 (81.60) | |
| Divorced | 338 (3.47) | 603 (6.52) | 950 (9.63) | |
| Widowed | 3646 (37.40) | 1203 (13.00) | 531 (5.38) | |
| Education level, n (%) | <0.001 | |||
| Less than primary | 994 (10.20) | 417 (4.51) | 246 (2.49) | |
| Primary | 3895 (40.00) | 2513 (27.20) | 1604 (16.30) | |
| Secondary | 3734 (38.30) | 4570 (49.40) | 5520 (56.00) | |
| Tertiary | 1115 (11.40) | 1754 (19.00) | 2495 (25.30) | |
| Wealth quintiles, n (%) | <0.001 | |||
| First (worst) | 1798 (18.50) | 801 (8.66) | 687 (6.96) | |
| Second | 2479 (25.50) | 1380 (14.90) | 960 (9.73) | |
| Third | 2185 (22.40) | 1895 (20.50) | 1481 (15.00) | |
| Fourth | 1721 (17.70) | 2247 (24.30) | 2494 (25.30) | |
| Fifth (best) | 1555 (16.00) | 2931 (31.70) | 4243 (43.00) | |
| Region, n (%) | 0.049 | |||
| Northern Europe | 1557 (16.00) | 1483 (16.00) | 1473 (14.90) | |
| Western Europe | 4842 (49.70) | 4676 (50.50) | 5090 (51.60) | |
| Southern Europe | 3339 (34.30) | 3095 (33.40) | 3302 (33.50) | |
| Healthy ageing trajectories, n (%) | <0.001 | |||
| High | 3073 (31.60) | 4620 (49.90) | 5962 (60.40) | |
| Medium | 4713 (48.40) | 3491 (37.70) | 3050 (30.90) | |
| Low | 1952 (20.00) | 1143 (12.40) | 853 (8.65) | |
| Physical activity, n (%) | 4934 (50.70) | 7107 (76.80) | 8283 (84.00) | <0.001 |
| Ever smoked, n (%) | 3910 (40.20) | 4572 (49.40) | 5543 (56.20) | <0.001 |
| Diseases, n (%) | ||||
| Diabetes | 1821 (18.70) | 1628 (17.60) | 1132 (11.50) | <0.001 |
| Hypertension | 5334 (54.80) | 4647 (50.20) | 3500 (35.50) | <0.001 |
| Joint disorders | 3914 (40.20) | 3018 (32.60) | 2407 (24.40) | <0.001 |
| Asthma | 703 (7.22) | 550 (5.94) | 497 (5.04) | <0.001 |
| COPD | 1214 (12.50) | 886 (9.57) | 622 (6.31) | <0.001 |
| Myocardial infarction | 3022 (31.00) | 1751 (18.90) | 957 (9.70) | <0.001 |
| Stroke | 1119 (11.50) | 565 (6.11) | 332 (3.37) | <0.001 |
| Depression | 4340 (44.60) | 3387 (36.60) | 3444 (34.90) | <0.001 |
| Death, n (%) | 1642 (16.90) | 451 (4.87) | 204 (2.07) | <0.001 |
Household income was divided into five quintiles (the first indicating the lowest income). Marital status ‘married’ category included ‘currently married or cohabiting’ and ‘divorced’ included ‘divorced or separated’.
*Based on t-tests for numerical variables and χ2 tests for categorical variables.
COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.;