Table 3 Characteristics of the study population at baseline, by quality of life †
QoL better than median Mean ± SEM n (%) n = 525 | QoL at median or worse Mean ± SEM n (%) n = 573 | p-value | |
|---|---|---|---|
Age (years) | 61.9 ± 0.3 | 64 ± 0.3 | <0.001 |
Gender (% male) | 267 (51) | 246 (47) | 0.18 |
BMI weight (cm)/(height (m))2 | 27.3 ± 0.2 | 28.4 ± 0.2 | <0.001 |
Height (cm) | 167.7 ± 0.4 | 166.3 ± 0.4 | 0.006 |
Weight (kg) | 77 ± 0.6 | 78.7 ±0.6 | 0.06 |
Current smokers | 64 (12) | 67 (12) | 0.78 |
Number of steps per day | 10373.9 ± 158.3 | 8597.9 ±154.7 | <0.001 |
Education Level | <0.001 | ||
No formal qualification | 54 (10) | 126 (22) | |
School or Intermediate certificate | 104 (20) | 114 (20) | |
Higher School or Leaving Certificate | 114 (22) | 107 (19) | |
Trade/apprenticeship | 59 (11) | 78 (14) | |
Certificate/diploma | 122 (23) | 95 (17) | |
University degree or higher | 72 (14) | 52 (9) | |
Current employment | |||
Employed/self-employed (full or part time) | 264 (50) | 168 (29) | <0.001 |
Retired | 178 (34) | 240 (42) | |
Disability pension | 4 (0.8) | 69 (12) | |
Doctor-diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis (%) | 6 | 18 | <0.001 |
Leg strength (kg) | 101.6 ± 1.38 | 86.3 ± 1.4 | <0.001 |