Table 1 Characteristics of 45 and up study sample, new south wales, Australia, 2006-2009

Asthma/Hayfever history

Yes

35,571

22.8

13,289

18.7

22,282

26.2

No

120,464

77.2

57,690

81.3

62,774

73.8

Age category

45-64 years

105,369

67.5

44,681

62.9

60,688

71.4

65-74 years

31,579

20.2

16,000

22.5

15,579

18.3

75-84 years

16,137

10.3

8,952

12.6

7,185

8.4

85+ years

2,950

1.9

1,346

1.9

1,604

1.9

Education

No certificate or other qualifications

14,260

9.1

6,048

8.5

8,212

9.7

School or intermediate certificate

32,334

20.7

9,835

13.9

22,499

26.4

Higher school or leaving certificate

15,494

9.9

7,004

9.9

8,490

10.0

Trade/apprenticeship

16,134

10.3

12,682

17.9

3,452

4.1

Certificate/diploma

35,444

22.7

14,678

20.7

20,766

24.4

University degree or higher

42,411

27.2

20,732

29.2

21,679

25.5

Weight status from body mass index

Underweight

1,855

1.2

457

0.6

1,398

1.6

Normal

57,411

36.8

21,232

29.9

36,179

42.5

Overweight

61,952

39.7

33,921

47.8

28,031

33.0

Obese

34,817

22.3

15,369

21.7

19,448

22.9

Smoking history

Ever smoker

65,384

41.9

35,206

49.6

30,178

35.5

Never smoker

90,651

58.1

35,773

50.4

54,878

64.5

Met 2 fruits + 5 vegetable standard

Yes

39,255

25.2

12,442

17.5

26,813

31.5

No

116,780

74.8

58,537

82.5

58,243

68.5

Australian Ancestry

Yes

80,030

51.3

36,288

51.1

43,742

51.4

No

76,005

48.7

34,691

48.9

41,314

48.6

Speak a language other than English in the home

Yes

13,370

8.6

6,505

9.2

6,865

8.1

No

142,665

91.4

64,474

90.8

78,191

91.9

Marital status

Married, cohabitating, de facto

120,983

77.5

58,872

82.9

62,111

73.0

Other

35,052

22.5

12,107

17.1

22,945

27.0

Work status

Work full time

41,838

26.8

22,958

32.3

18,880

22.2

Retired

54,064

34.6

25,603

36.1

28,461

33.5

Other

60,133

38.5

22,418

31.6

37,715

44.3