Table 1

Demographic and lifestyle characteristics of GS:SFHS cohort (n=24 084) and comparison to the Scottish population

CharacteristicN% (or median and IQR)Scotland average
Sex  
 Female14 15758.8%51.5%*
 Male992741.2%48.5%*
Age  
 Median age (IQR)24 08449 (36–59)41.3*
Ethnicity  
 White22 82694.8%96.0%*
 Other2621.1%4.0%*
 Missing9964.1% 
SIMD quintiles  
 5 (least deprived)657127.3%20.6%†
 4541922.5%21.1%†
 3343714.3%19.8%†
 2298712.4%19.3%†
 1 (most deprived)272411.3%19.2%†
 Missing294612.2% 
Rural Urban Classification codes  
 1—large urban areas736930.6%37.8%‡
 2667927.7%33.9%‡
 320328.4%8.6%‡
 410064.2%2.6%‡
 5266211.1%11.6%‡
 6—remote rural areas13905.8%5.5%‡
 Missing294612.2% 
Employment status (up to 75 years)  
 Employed (full time or part-time)14 80864.6%73.2%§
 Unemployed9704.2%3.90%§
 Retired308013.4% 
 Other18087.9% 
 Missing22559.8% 
Education—highest qualification attained  
 No qualification314513.3%26.8%*
 Lower secondary school361115.3%23.1%*
 Higher secondary school245210.4%14.3%*
 College level645027.3%9.7%*
 University level733031.0%26.1%*
 Other6242.6% 
 Missing17387.2% 
Smoking status  
 Current smoker399716.6%11.3%¶
 Ex-smoker696428.9%23.2%¶
 Non-smoker12 22750.8%65.6%¶
 Missing8963.7% 
Alcohol consumption  
 Median alcohol units per week (IQR)21 7378 (2–15)6.1¶

  • *Based on 2011 Scottish Census.38–40

  • †Based on National Records of Scotland (NRS) Population Estimates by SIMD.41

  • ‡Based on NRS Scottish Government Urban Rural Classification 2020.42

  • §Based on the ONS Annual Population Survey 2021.43 Individuals aged 18–64 years.

  • ¶Based on The Scottish Health Survey 2021.1

  • GS, Generation Scotland; SFHS, Scottish Family Health Study; SIMD, Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation.