Table 1 General characteristics of the Ghanaian study population (age ≥ 50 years)

Individuals n

924

Age median (iqr) years

66

(56–73)

Age groups n (%)

50–59 years

307

(33.2)

60–69 years

291

(31.5)

70–79 years

242

(26.2)

80+ years

84

(9.1)

Male sex n (%)

480

(51.9)

Lifetime fertility median (iqr) children per woman

7

(6–9)

Households n

636

Household property value median (iqr) US$

1,077

(533–1,942)

Waist circumference median (iqr) cm

76

(72–81)

Body mass index median (iqr) kg/m ²

18.1

(16.5–19.5)

Capillary glucose median (iqr) mmol/l

3.9

(3.4–4.4)

Blood pressure median (iqr) mmHg

diastolic

70

(65–80)

systolic

120

(110–135)

Hypertension

24.2

%

Myocardial infarction^a

1.2

%

Individuals with infectious diseases^b

Malaria species

77.7

%

Protozoa

100.0

%

Helminths

21.5

%

Proinflammatory markers^c

Interleukin-6 median (iqr) ng/l

1.9

(1.4–2.7)

C-reactive protein median (iqr) mg/l

1.0

(0.4–2.7)