Table 1

Characteristics of the study population


ALL
n = 9,419
MALES
n = 4,478
FEMALES
N = 4,908

Gender (%)

47.5
52.1

Age groups (%)



     12 – 44
24.5
23.1
26.0
     45 – 54
14.9
15.5
14.5
     55 – 64
18.9
21.6
16.5
     65 – 74
24.6
25.6
23.7
     75 – 99
16.7
14.1
19.2

Study populations



General population
40.8
38.0
43.5
Primary care patients
7.4
4.5
10.0
Musculoskeletal system & connective tissue diseases
9.2
5.5
12.7
COPD/Asthma
9.2
14.0
4.8
Toxic Oil Syndrome
8.9
6.5
11.2
Chronic Kidney Failure
7.6
9.4
6.0
Cardiovascular diseases
3.2
5.5
0.9
Others
13.8
16.6
10.9

† For a subset of individuals (n = 33) information on gender was not available

Prieto et al. Health and Quality of Life Outcomes 2003 1:27   doi:10.1186/1477-7525-1-27