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Table 1 Participant characteristics according to depression status

From: Investigating the epigenetic profile of the inflammatory gene IL-6 in late-life depression

Characteristic

No depression n = 288

MDD and/or CES-D ≥ 16 n = 92

Difference p-valuea

 

Mean ± SD

 

Age

71.6 ± 4.5

71.6 ± 4.2

0.987

 

%

 

Female

52.4

78.3

< 0.001

Higher (≥12 years) education level

39.6

25.0

0.011

Living alone

18.4

38.0

< 0.001

Regular alcohol consumption (>24 g/day)

22.6

15.2

0.141

Current smoking (>10 pack years)

37.5

32.6

0.421

Functional impairmentb

1.4

4.3

0.085

Cognitive impairmentc

3.5

14.1

< 0.001

Cardiovascular diseased

12.5

7.6

0.197

Other reported health conditions or related treatmentse

13.9

8.7

0.192

Obese (BMI ≥ 30)

6.3

10.9

0.140

Antidepressant usef

1.7

10.9

< 0.001

  1. aCalculated from a chi squared test, except for age where a t-test was used
  2. bUnable to independently complete ≥2 items on the Instrumental Activities of Daily Living, or the Activities of Daily Living scales
  3. cMini-Mental State Examination score < 24
  4. dAngina pectoris, myocardial infarction, stroke, cardiovascular surgery, arteritis
  5. eHypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes, thyroid problems, asthma, recent cancer diagnosis or cardiovascular disease
  6. fAccording to the World Health Organisation’s ATC classification, with just over half being selective serotonin receptor inhibitors (SSRIs)