Table 2 Socio-demographic data of patients at baseline (n = 3,189)

Age (at baseline interview): mean ± sd

74.4 ± 5.2 years

- male

40.7%

- female

59.3%

Education (in CASMIN grade)

- grade 1 (low)

- grade 2 (medium)

62.3%

26.8%

- grade 3 (high)

10.9%

Household-size adjusted net income per month: mean ± sd

1412 ± 704 €

[n = 2,793]

Home ownership

40.3%

[n = 3,149]

Former occupation(in degree of autonomy on a 5 point scale with 1 = low and 5 = high): mean ± sd

2.9 ± 1.1

[n = 3,128]

Marital status

- never married

5.9%

- married

56.2%

- estranged (living in seperate homes)

2.3%

- divorced

8.0%

- widowed

27.7%

[n = 3,188]

Household type

- living in private home alone

35.4%

- living in private home with spouse

57.9%

- living in private home with family members

4.1%

- living in private home with other persons

0.7%

- living in assisted living

1.7%

- living in retirement home

0.3%

- living in nursing home

0**

Nursing dependency level

- no nursing dependency

95.6%

- dependency level 1

3.4%

- dependency level 2

1.0%

- dependency level 3

0.1%

[n = 3,168]

Number of chronic conditions

(based on a list of 46 chronic conditions): mean ± sd

7.0 ± 2.5