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Table 1 Characteristics of the concession card holders in the 45 and Up study, and total study population

From: High risk prescribing in older adults: prevalence, clinical and economic implications and potential for intervention at the population level

Characteristic~

Concession card holders (n = 73,528; 28%)

All participants (n = 266,074)

Socio-demographic factors

 

Age groups, n (%)

  

45–59 years

14,888 (20%)

122,875 (46%)

60–69 years

25,599 (35%)

73,833 (28%)

70–79 years

20,432 (28%)

42,256 (16%)

≥ 80 years

12,609 (17%)

27,098 (10%)

Sex, n (%)

  

Male

32,755 (45%)

123,402 (46%)

Female

40,773 (55%)

142,672 (54%)

Country of birth, n (%)

  

Australia born

54,031 (73%)

199,342 (75%)

Born outside of Australia

19,497 (27%)

66,732 (25%)

Highest educational qualification, n (%)

 

University degree

7,289 (10%)

61,290 (23%)

Certificate/diploma

21,932 (30%)

84,556 (32%)

Higher school/leaving certificate

6,757 (9%)

25,985 (10%)

School/intermediate certificate

20,338 (28%)

58, 611 (22%)

No certificate

15,358 (21%)

31,194 (12%)

Household income, n (%)

  

Less than $20,000

31,380 (43)

52,359 (20%)

$20,000-$39,999

17, 260 (23%)

46,555 (17%)

$40,000-$69,999

5,545 (8%)

46,968 (18%)

$70,000 or more

1,007 (1%)

62,553 (24%)

Missing

18,336 (5%)

57,639 (22%)

Marital status, n (%)

  

Married/defacto

46,771 (64%)

198,760 (75%)

Not married*

26,265 (36%)

65,703 (25%)

Region, n (%)

  

Inner regional

29,909 (38%)

93,581 (35%)

Major cities

28,600 (39%)

119,792 (45%)

More remote

17,008 (23%)

52,640 (20%)

Lifestyle and social factors

 

Alcohol use, number of drinks per week, n (%)

 

None

31,163 (42%)

86,198 (32%)

1–14

31,400 (43%)

136,880 (51%)

≥ 15

8,517 (12%)

37,357 (14%)

Smoking history, n (%)

  

Current smoker

6,833 (9%)

19,247 (7%)

Former smoker

28,365 (39%)

96,080 (36%)

Never-smoker

38,017 (52%)

149,900 (56%)

Body Mass Index, kg/m2, n (%)#

 

Underweight (15–18.4 kg/m2),

1,139 (2%)

3,094 (1%)

Normal weight (18.5–24.9 kg/m2)

23,306 (32%)

90,563 (34%)

Overweight (25.0–29.9 kg/m2)

25,624 (35%)

97,163 (37%)

Obese (≥30.0 kg/m2)

16,761 (23%)

54,903 (21%)

Missing

6,698 (9%)

20, 351 (8%)

Functional capacity and medical diseases

 

Needing assistance with daily tasks because of long-term illness or disability, n (%)

Yes

8,113 (11%)

14,499 (5%)

No

60,529 (82%)

238,661 (90%)

Missing

4,886 (7%)

12,914 (5%)

Physical activity, tertile, n (%)

 

1

22,087 (30%)

77,019 (29%)

2

23,422 (32%)

86,501 (33%)

3

21,986 (30%)

87,411 (33%)

Missing

6,033 (8%)

15,143 (6%)

Self-rated health, n (%)

  

Excellent

5,705 (8%)

38,758 (15%)

Very good

20,449 (28%)

94,776 (36%)

Good

26,822 (36%)

86,711 (33%)

Fair

13,864 (19%)

30,822 (12%)

Poor

3,187 (4%)

5,625 (2%)

Missing

3,501 (5%)

9,328 (4%)

Kessler 10 score, psychological distress, n (%)

 

Low

42,596 (58%)

180,524 (68%)

Moderate

10,223 (14%)

36,817 (14%)

High

4,623 (6%)

12,718 (5%)

Very high

2,427 (3%)

5,144 (2%)

Missing

13,659 (19%)

30,871 (12%)

Diabetes, n (%)

  

Yes

10,716 (85%)

24,609 (9%)

No

62,812 (5%)

241,465 (91%)

Cardiovascular diseases, n (%)^

 

Yes

17,157 (23%)

39, 815 (15%)

No

56,371 (77%)

226,259 (85%)

Cancer, n (%)≠

  

Yes

11,258 (15%)

30,426 (11%)

No

62,270 (85%)

235,648 (89%)

  1. Missing values given where they amount to 5% or more of the total.
  2. ~ Percentages do not add up to 100% in all instances due to missing values and rounding.
  3. *Single, widowed or divorced.
  4. #Body Mass Index categories in line with World Health Organization classifications.
  5. ^Heart disease, stroke or blood clot.
  6. ≠Self-reported history of cancer excluding skin cancer.