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Table 1 Demographics and responses to key variables of a population survey of 5331 people in South Australia in the 2 years 2007-8.

From: Predictors of chronic breathlessness: a large population study

Variable

Levels

Total

population

% (n = 5331)

50 years and

over %

(n = 2685)

Gender

Male

42.3

40.7

 

Female

57.7

59.3

Marital status

Married

47.6

54.6

 

De facto

8.7

3.7

 

Separated/divorced

13.5

16.9

 

Widowed

9.9

19.2

 

Never married

20.0

5.3

 

Not stated

0.3

0.3

Age

<35

24.3

-

 

35-49

25.3

-

 

50-64

25.8

51.3

 

>65

24.5

48.7

Level of Disadvantage

Most disadvantaged

22.5

22.7

 

2

21.9

21.5

 

3

17.9

17.9

 

4

17.2

16.8

 

Least disadvantaged

20.5

21.1

Breathlessness

None

88.9

85.0

 

Breathless when hurrying on level or up a slight hill

7.5

9.2

 

Stop for breath when walking up at my own pace on the level

1.7

2.9

 

Stop for breath after 100 m or after a few minutes on the level

1.5

2.3

 

Too breathless to leave the house

0.4

0.6

 

Not stated

<0.1

<0.1

Smoking history

Never smoker

50.1

49.6

 

Ex-smoker

30.4

38.3

 

Current smoker

19.5

12.1

Smoke-free home

Yes

85.6

87.1

 

No

14.4

12.9

Physical activity

No activity

20.2

25.1

 

Some activity but not sufficient

41.4

42.1

 

Sufficient physical activity

38.4

32.9

Body mass index

Under weight

2.6

1.5

 

Healthy weight

41.0

36.1

 

Overweight

33.5

37.2

 

Obese

23.0

25.2

  1. # Weighted to the South Australian population