Table 1 Demographic, social and health characteristics, showing differences between baseline population sample and analytic sample

Demographics

Percent Women (n)

62.0% (1555)

61.8% (1260)

χ² = 0.25, 1df, P = 0.62

Mean age (std. dev)

51.9 years (12.6)

52.3 years (12.5)

t = -4.26, p < .0001

Percent rural residents

43.7% (1082)

44.3% (892)

χ² = 1.36, 1df, p = 0.24

Health

Compared to others your age, how do you rate your health in general, % (n):

χ² = 6.35, 4 df, p = 0.17

 Poor

3.98% (99)

3.78% (77)

 Fair

17.08% (425)

16.34% (333)

 Good

34.31% (854)

34.59% (705)

 Very good

31.50% (784)

31.80% (648)

 Excellent

13.14% (327)

13.49% (275)

Multimorbidity: Percent with 3 + chronic illnesses (list of 14)

25.5% (636)

26.1% (530)

χ² = 1.82, 1df, p = 0.18

Social characteristics (in order of increasing vulnerability)

Highest education completed, % (n)

χ² = 20.8, 2df, p < .0001

 Primary or partial secondary

21.4% (531)

19.8% (403)

 Secondary or technical

55.1% (1366)

55.7% (1138)

 University

23.5% (582)

24.5% (500)

Self-perceived financial status, % (n)

 Very poor to very tight

9.7% (238)

8,9% (181)

 Tight to Moderately comfortable

59.9% (1476)

60,1% (1225)

χ² = 8.77, 2df, p = 0.01

 Comfortable or very comfortable

30.5% (751)

31.0% (633)

Social Support—How many persons, family or friends…

…could help you with activities of daily living (e.g. dressing, driving)?

 More than one

50.9% (1262)

49.4% (1007)

χ² = 13.14, 2 df, p = 0.001

 One

31.6% (784)

33.1% (675)

 None

17.5% (434)

17.5% (357)

… can you freely confide in or talk about yourself or your problems?

 More than one

73.3% (1822)

73.4% (1496)

 One

21.2% (526)

21.5% (438)

χ² = 3.26, 2df, p = 0.20

 None

5.5% (137)

5.1% (105)

Language spoken at home, % (n)

 Other

1.2% (30)

0.9% (19)

χ² = 16.95, 2 df, p = 0.0002

 French or English

94.0% (2339)

94.9% (1933)

 French and English

4.7% (118)

4.1% (84)