Table 1 Baseline characteristics of participating elderly men and women, The Tromsø Study (2007-2008)

Age in years, Mean (SD)

71.2 (5.3)

72.0 (5.6)

< 0.001^a

Currently married, % (n)

75.6 (1178)

51.4 (798)

< 0.001^b

Lower education, % (n)

33.2 (517)

52.9 (822)

< 0.001^b

Smoking, % (n)

   Never smoked

24.4 (380)

47.8 (743)

< 0.001^b

   Previous smokers

60.6 (944)

38.2 (593)

   Current smokers

15.0 (234)

14.0 (217)

Alcohol^d more than once a month, % (n)

57.1 (878)

39.6 (605)

< 0.005^b

BMI (kg/m²) Mean (SD)

27.0 (3.6)

27.0 (4.5)

0.69^a

Risk of malnutrition, % (n)

   Low

94.3 (1470)

91.4 (1419)

0.005^b

   Medium

3.5 (55)

5.5 (85)

   High

2.1 (33)

3.2 (49)

SCL-10 score Median (interquartile range)

1.10 (1.00-1.30)

1.20 (1.07-1.44)

< 0.001^c

SCL-10 score ≥ 1.85, % (n)

3.9 (61)

9.1 (142)

< 0.001^b