Table 1 Characteristics of the study samples

Participants, n

7522

4032

Individual level variables

Mean age (± SD)

57.8 (± 6.9)

57.7 (± 6.6)

0.281

Women, % (number)

55.2 (4150)

51.5 (2075)

<0.001

Education, % (number)

primary

12.5 (934)

10.0 (401)

<0.001

vocational

36.9 (2761)

55.5 (2230)

secondary

37.0 (2769)

16.4 (659)

university degree

13.7 (1022)

18.2 (730)

Social isolation, % (number)

5.5 (406)

3.0 (119)

<0.001

Economic activity, % (number)

still employed

53.8 (4009)

46.2 (1859)

<0.001

retired

42.5 (3162)

32.3 (1299)

unemployed

3.1 (228)

7.0 (282)

inactive, other

0.6 (46)

14.4 (580)

Obesity, % (number)

30.0 (1868)

26.4 (1059)

<0.001

Hypertension, % (number)

55.6 (4177)

41.7 (1680)

<0.001

Smoking, % (number)

26.9 (1996)

25.0 (1006)

0.028

Low physical activity, % (number)

30.8 (2230)

44.7 (1799)

<0.001

Area level variables

Unemployment rate, mean (SD)

10.4 (± 5.6)

12.3 (± 3.4)

<0.001

Overcrowding – m ² of living space per person, mean (SD)

18.8 (± 3.1)

38.9 (± 4.6)

<0.001