Table 1

Characteristics of subjects at baseline and incidence of functional disability after 5 years

		Non-participants (0–2 times) (n=2175)		Participants (3 times and more) (n=246)		p Value
		N	Per cent	N	Per cent	p Value
Sex	Male	1199	55.1	47	19.1	<0.001
	Female	976	44.9	199	80.9
	Total	2175	100	246	100
Age	65–74 years	1502	69.1	155	63.0	0.060
	75 years and over	673	30.9	91	37.0
	Total	2175	100	246	100
Educational attainment	10 years and over	987	45.9	95	39.3	0.056
	9 years and under	1165	54.1	147	60.7
	Total	2152	100	242	100
Equivalent income	2 million yen (about US$20 000) and more	892	53.4	72	40.9	0.002
	1.99 million yen (about US$19 900) and less	778	46.6	104	59.1
	Total	1670	100	176	100
Higher level of ADL	13 points (full marks)	711	36.1	120	53.1	<0.001
	12 points and under	1261	63.9	106	46.9
	Total	1972	100	226	100
Depression (GDS-15)	None (0–4 points)	1367	72.7	158	72.5	0.069
	Mild (5–9 points)	387	20.6	37	17.0
	Severe (10–15 points)	126	6.7	23	10.6
	Total	1880	100	218	100
Incidence of functional disability	Non-certification	1870	86.0	227	92.3	0.005
	Certification	305	14.0	19	7.7
	Total	2175	100	246	100