Creator/Principal investigator(s)
Carin Lennartsson - Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm University, Aging Research Center (ARC)
Johan Fritzell - Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm University, Aging Research Center (ARC)
Olle Lundberg - Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm University, Aging Research Center (ARC)
Mats Thorslund - Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm University, Aging Research Center (ARC)
Description
SWEOLD is a nationally representative survey of the older population in Sweden. The sample consists of individuals previously included in the selection of Swedish Level of Living Survey (LNU), who have passed the LNU age ceiling of 75 years. The first survey was carried out in 1992. Further waves were conducted in 2002, 2004, 2010 and 2014. In 2004 and 2014, the survey included people who were aged 70 and older. A new survey wave will begin in 2021.
SWEOLD data is linked to the LNU, that has been conducted regularly since 1968. This longitudinal database thus provides the opportunity to follow individuals over a 50-year period. In addition to the panel sample, SWEOLD also comprises an additional representative sample of older women and men. As each wave of LNU and SWEOLD is nationally representative, the data can also be used for cross-sectional analyses.
The questionnaire covers a wide variety of areas of concern to elderly people, such as mobility and activities of daily living (ADL and IADL), as well as health, housing, economy, family, political resources and leisure activities. Various
Language
English
Swedish
Research principal
Responsible department/unit
Stockholm University, Aging Research Center (ARC)Data contains personal data
Yes
Sensitive personal data
Yes
Type of personal data
Pseudonymised data
Code key exists
Yes
Ethics Review
Swedish Ethical Review Authority - Ref. 2019-06324; 2020-04118
Unit of analysis
Population
The Swedish population aged 75 and older
Study design
Observational study
Cohort study
Cohort study: Prospective
Sampling procedure
1992: Those who previously had been interviewed at least once in the Swedish Level of Living Surveys (LNU), and were aged 77 and older.
2002: Those who had been included in the sample of any of the previous LNU studies, and were aged 76 and older.
2004: Those who had been included in the sample of any of the previous LNU studies, and were aged 69 and older.
2011: Those who had been included in the sample of any of the previous LNU studies, and were aged 76 and older. There was also an additional representative sample of people who were 85–99 years old.
2014: Those who had been included in the sample of any of the previous LNU studies, and were aged 70 and older. The survivors from the additional sample drawn in 2011 were also included in the 2014 survey.
Time period(s) investigated
1992 – ongoing
Geographic spread
Geographic location: Sweden
Research area
Public Health, Global Health, Social Medicine and Epidemiology, Gerontology, specialising in Medical and Health Sciences, Sociology
(The Swedish standard of fields of research 2011)
Keywords
aged, activities of daily living, housing, life style, memory, motor activity, socioeconomic factors, diet, alcohol drinking, family, leisure activities, physical fitness, gait, hand strength, homemaker services, health, health status, sex, retention, psychology, oral health, retirement, interpersonal relations, smoking, disease, hospitalization, social conditions, social class, aging, living conditions, near- national e-infrastructure for aging research, near
Lennartsson C, Agahi N, Hols Salén L, Kelfve S, Kåreholt I, Lundberg O, Parker, M.G., & Thorslund, M. 2014. Data Resource Profile: The Swedish Panel Study of Living Conditions of the Oldest Old (SWEOLD). International Journal of Epidemiology, 43(3), 731-738, DOI: 10.1093/ije/dyu057.
Read full text
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1093/ije/dyu057
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Associated documentation
Description
The first Panel Study of Living Conditions of the Oldest Old (SWEOLD) was carried out in 1992. The sample consisted of persons born between February 1892 and February 1915, who had previously been interviewed at least once in the Swedish Level of Living Survey (LNU).The sample comprised 563 people and the response rate was 95.4% (n=537). Face-to-face interviews were carried out with 453 respondents, the remaining interviews were proxy interviews with a close relative or care staff.
Data format / data structure
Numeric
Creator/Principal investigator(s)
Olle Lundberg - Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm University, Aging Research Center (ARC)
Mats Thorslund - Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm University, Aging Research Center (ARC)
Response rate/participation rate
95.4%
Associated documentation
Description
The second SWEOLD study was carried out in 2002. The sample consisted of persons born in 1925 and earlier, who had been in the sample of any of the previous Swedish Level of Living Surveys (LNU). The sample consisted of 736 persons and the response rate was 84.4% (n=621). Face-to-face interviews were carried out with 87% of the respondents, and 13% were proxy interviews with a close relative or care staff.Data format / data structure
Numeric
Creator/Principal investigator(s)
Carin Lennartsson - Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm University, Aging Research Center (ARC)
Johan Fritzell - Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm University, Aging Research Center (ARC)
Olle Lundberg - Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm University, Aging Research Center (ARC)
Mats Thorslund - Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm University, Aging Research Center (ARC)
Response rate/participation rate
84.4%
Associated documentation
Description
The third SWEOLD study was carried out in 2004. The sample consisted of persons born in 1935 and earlier, who had been in the sample of any of the previous Swedish Level of Living Surveys (LNU). The sample consisted of 1352 persons and the response rate was 87.3% (n=1180). In this survey wave, the interviews were only carried out per telephone (and in a few cases postal questionnaires were used). Direct interviews were carried out with 84.5% of the respondents and 15.5% were proxy interviews wit
... Show more..Data format / data structure
Numeric
Creator/Principal investigator(s)
Carin Lennartsson - Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm University, Aging Research Center (ARC)
Johan Fritzell - Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm University, Aging Research Center (ARC)
Olle Lundberg - Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm University, Aging Research Center (ARC)
Mats Thorslund - Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm University, Aging Research Center (ARC)
Response rate/participation rate
87.3%
Associated documentation
Description
The fourth SWEOLD study was carried out in 2011. The sample consisted of 829 persons born in 1934 and earlier, who had been in the sample of any of the previous Swedish Level of Living Surveys (LNU). The sample was complemented with an additional sample of 335 women and men aged 85–99. The total response rate was 86.2% (n=931).
For the most part, face-to-face interviews were used to gather data, but in some cases telephone interviews or postal questionnaires were used. Direct interviews were c
Data format / data structure
Numeric
Creator/Principal investigator(s)
Carin Lennartsson - Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm University, Aging Research Center (ARC)
Johan Fritzell - Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm University, Aging Research Center (ARC)
Olle Lundberg - Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm University, Aging Research Center (ARC)
Mats Thorslund - Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm University, Aging Research Center (ARC)
Response rate/participation rate
86.2%
Associated documentation
Description
The fifth SWEOLD study was conducted in 2014. The sample consisted of persons born in 1944 and earlier who had been in the sample of any of the previous Swedish Level of Living Surveys (LNU), and those in the additional sample for SWEOLD 2011 who were still alive. In total, the sample consisted of 1,539 persons and the response rate was 84.3% (n=1,297).
Similar to SWEOLD 2004, the interviews were carried out per telephone. In some cases, a postal questionnaire was used. Direct interviews were c
Data format / data structure
Numeric
Creator/Principal investigator(s)
Carin Lennartsson - Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm University, Aging Research Center (ARC)
Johan Fritzell - Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm University, Aging Research Center (ARC)
Olle Lundberg - Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm University, Aging Research Center (ARC)
Mats Thorslund - Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm University, Aging Research Center (ARC)
Response rate/participation rate
84.3%