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Table 2 Sample characteristics

From: Unexplained health inequality – is it unfair?

 

N (%)

HUI

Total sample

4, 328(100)

0.869

Demographics status

  

Age (year)

  

 18-44

1,962(45.33)

0.910

 45-64

1,470(33.96)

0.856

 65+

896(20.70)

0.800

Sex

  

 Men

1,899(43.88)

0.881

 Women

2,429(56.12)

0.860

Marital status

  

 Married or common law partner

2,443(56.45)

0.888

 Separated, divorced, or widowed

1,094(25.28)

0.812

 Single

791(18.28)

0.889

Race

  

 White

3,384(78.19)

0.874

 Other

500(11.55)

0.842

 Black

332(7.67)

0.843

 Asian

112(2.59)

0.918

Country of birth

  

 Foreign born

614(14.19)

0.867

 Native born

3,714(85.81)

0.869

Health behaviour

  

Smoker type and history

  

 Never smoked

2,259(52.20)

0.889

 Former smoker and started smoking at or after 18 years

717(16.57)

0.858

 Former smoker and started smoking before 18 years

342(7.90)

0.817

BMI

  

 Underweight

96(2.22)

0.820

 Normal weight

1,864(43.07)

0.890

 Overweight

1,455(33.62)

0.880

 Obese

913(21.10)

0.813

Frequency of physical activity

  

 Regular

2,518(58.18)

0.907

 Occasional

736(17.01)

0.885

 Infrequent

1,074(24.82)

0.768

Socioeconomic status

  

Household income

  

  Lowest income quintile

665(15.37)

0.769

  Lower middle income quintile

696(16.08)

0.855

  Middle income quintile

620(14.33)

0.894

  Higher middle income quintile

726(16.77)

0.909

  Highest middle income quintile

763(17.63)

0.930

  Income missing

858(19.82)

0.852

Education

  

  Less than high school

431(9.96)

0.756

  High school graduate

1,569(36.25)

0.856

  Non-university/college certificate

635(14.67)

0.867

  University/college certificate

1,693(39.12)

0.911

Health care factors

  

Has regular medical doctor

  

  No

786(18.16)

0.890

  Yes

3,542(81.84)

0.864

Unmet need

  

  No

3,816(88.84)

0.885

  Yes

512(11.83)

0.753

With high blood pressure and received treatment in the last 12 months

  

  No

54(1.25)

0.820

  Yes

832(19.22)

0.788

  No high blood pressure

3,442(79.53)

0.889

With asthma and received medication in the last 12 months

  

  No

190(4.39)

0.882

  Yes

280(6.47)

0.784

  No asthma

3,858(89.14)

0.875

Has pharmaceutical insurance

  

  No

881(20.36)

0.846

  Yes

3,447(79.64)

0.875

Health insurance type (US only)

  

  No insurance

443(10.24)

0.851

  Medicaid only

160(3.70)

0.677

  Non-Medecaid public only including Medicare

254(5.87)

0.758

  Private plus public including Medicare

818(18.90)

0.811

  Private only

2,653(61.30)

0.912

  1. Data source: Joint Canada/United States Survey of Health (JCUSH).
  2. BMI: body mass index; HUI: Health Utilities Index.
  3. BMI is based on the World Health Organization. Underweight: <18.5 kg/m2; normal weight: 18.5-24.9 kg/m2; overweight: 25-30 kg/m2; obese >30 kg/m2.
  4. HUI estimates are weighted and unadjusted.