Baseline characteristics of both groups
| Factor | Young group (<65 years) | Elderly group (>65 years) | Difference significance | Effect size* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| N | 203 012 | 262 813 | <0.001 | r=0.01 |
| Mean age (SD) (years) | 55.1 (7.9) | 76.1 (6.9) | <0.001 | r=0.83 |
| Male (%) | 78% | 63.9% | <0.001 | V=0.15 |
| Ethnicity (British) (%) | 82.5% | 89.1% | <0.001 | V=0.11 |
| Employment (FT) (%)† | 49.7% | 6.3% | <0.001 | V=0.70 |
| Obesity (BMI>30 kg/m2) (%) | 29.3% | 18.9% | <0.001 | V=0.12 |
| Male waist circumference (%)‡ | 37.5% | 37.3% | 0.60 | V=0.00 |
| Female waist circumference (%)§ | 65.8% | 59.1% | <0.001 | V=0.07 |
| Smokers (%) | 38% | 14.4% | <0.001 | V=0.27 |
| Comorbidities (+3) (%) | 15.8% | 22.7% | <0.001 | V=0.09 |
| Total cholesterol (+4) (%)¶ | 73.7% | 60.7% | <0.001 | V=0.14 |
| Clinically anxious (%) | 19% | 9.6% | <0.001 | V=0.17 |
| Clinically depressed (%) | 10.3% | 5.9% | <0.001 | V=0.09 |
| Hypertensive (%)** | 72.6% | 64.6% | <0.001 | V=0.09 |
| Fitness level (SD)†† | 402.1 m (166.2) | 279.4 m (136.5) | <0.001 | r=0.14 |
| Moderate physical activity (%)‡‡ | 24.7% | 20.3% | <0.001 | V=0.05 |
| Vigorous physical activity (%)§§ | 6.2% | 2.9% | <0.001 | V=0.08 |
| Outpatient CR duration (SD)¶¶ | 59.5 (46.6) | 61.5 (46.5) | 0.001 | r=0.02 |
*r=Pearson correlation, V=Cramer's V effect sizes.
†Ratio of patients in either FT or PT jobs.
‡Waist size >102 cm.
§Waist size >88 cm.
¶Ratio of patients with total cholesterol more than 4 mmol/L.
**Ratio of hypertensive patients (blood pressure over 140 mm Hg systolic and 90 mm Hg diastolic).
††Average ISWT metres walked in each group.
‡‡Ratio of patients taking moderate physical activity for 150 min/week.
§§Ratio of patients taking vigorous physical activity for 75 min/week.
¶¶Outpatient CR mean duration in days.
BMI, body mass index; CR, cardiac rehabilitation; Employment FT, full time; ISWT, Incremental Shuttle Walk Test.