Socioeconomic disparities in gait speed and associated characteristics in early old age

Table 1 Description of the population

		Men		Women
		N	%	N	%
Usual gait speed	Two lower tertiles (slower speed)	268	67.5	217	64.0
	Upper tertile	129	32.5	122	36.0
Occupational class	Manager/executive	157	39.6
	Intermediate grade/tradesmen	117	29.5
	Clerks, sales/service workers	33	8.3
	Blue collar/Craftsmen	90	22.7
	Manager/executive			53	15.6
	Intermediate grade/tradesmen			101	29.8
	Clerks			86	25.4
	Sales/service workers/Blue collar/Craftsman			99	29.2
Age	55–60	180	45.3	174	51.3
	61–69	217	54.7	165	48.7
Sport	Never	129	32.5	112	33.0
	<=2 hours/week	115	29.0	123	36.3
	>2 hours/week	153	38.5	104	30.7
BMI*	Normal weight	145	36.5	183	54.0
	Overweight	192	48.4	113	33.3
	Obese	60	15.1	43	12.7
Height	Average**	192	48.4	183	54.0
	Taller***	205	51.6	156	46.0
Smoking	Ever	232	58.4	109	32.2
	Never	165	41.6	230	67.8
Cardiovascular disorders	Absence	293	73.8	261	77.0
	Presence	104	26.2	78	23.0
Musculoskelatal disorders	Absence	332	83.6	246	72.6
	Presence	65	16.4	93	27.4
Carrying heavy loads	Ever exposed	129	32.5	107	31.6
	Never exposed	268	67.5	232	68.4
Repetitive work	Ever exposed	48	12.1	50	14.7
	Never exposed	349	87.9	289	85.3

*Standard=less than 25 Kg/m²; overweight=from 25 to less than 30 Kg/m²; obese=at least 30 Kg/m²
**Less than 1.73 for men; 1.60 m or less for women
***1.73m or more for men; more than 1.60m for women

ISSN: 1471-2474