Table 1 Key sample characteristics at baseline (in 2005)

Age (years)

54.7

(2.7)

54.6

(2.7)

54.7

(2.7)

 Junior high school

16.2

15.6

16.8

 High school

58.4

64.1

52.5

 Junior college

7.6

12.4

2.7

 College

17.1

7.4

27.3

 Other

0.6

0.5

0.7

Having a spouse (%)

87.6

86.2

88.9

Number of household members

2.5

(1.3)

2.4

(1.3)

26

(1.3)

Employed (%)

81.7

69.3

94.5

Household spending^a

230.8

(220.6)

224.8

(191.0)

237.1

(247.6)

Informal caregiving (%)

7.3

9.1

5.4

Participated in social activities (%)

71.7

72.8

70.6

K6 score (range: 0–24)

3.0

(3.9)

3.2

(4.0)

2.8

(3.9)

No care

74.5

71.3

77.8

1 year (commencement)

12.8

[50.1]

13.5

[47.0]

12.2

[54.3]

2 years

5.2

[20.2]

5.7

[19.7]

4.6

[20.9]

3 years

3.0

[11.8]

3.7

[12.8]

2.3

[10.4]

4 years

1.9

[7.3]

2.2

[7.7]

1.5

[6.6]

5 years

1.1

[4.5]

1.6

[5.6]

0.7

[3.0]

6-8 years

1.6

[6.2]

2.0

[7.1]

1.1

[4.9]

(Non-continuous caregiving

5.4

[21.2]

6.1

[21.3]

4.9

[20.9])

Number of individuals

24,193

12,352

11,841