Table 1 Baseline characteristics of patients with suspected cardiac dyspnea^a

Age, y

83 (77–88)

79 (67–88)

.00069

Men

235 (44)

76 (48)

.38

 Hypertension

378 (71)

90 (57)

.0015

 Chronic heart failure

288 (54)

59 (37)

.00035

 Atrial fibrillation

239 (45)

54 (34)

.023

 Coronary heart disease

161 (30)

37 (23)

.12

 Diabetes mellitus

152 (28)

37 (23)

.18

 Chronic renal failure

120 (28)

30 (19)

.41

 Chronic respiratory failure

92 (17)

32 (20)

.43

 Known valvular disease

99 (19)

22 (16)

.22

 Furosemide

315 (59)

67 (43)

.00059

 ACEI/ARB

242 (45)

52 (36)

.011

 β-blocker

231 (43)

44 (28)

.0010

 Anticoagulant

236 (44)

48 (31)

.0038

 Aspirin

163 (31)

40 (26)

.28

 Other antiplatelet

61 (11)

16 (10)

.80

 Oral antidiabetic

71 (13)

19 (12)

.83

 Insulin

71 (13)

10 (6.3)

.028

 Amiodarone

58 (11)

19 (12)

.74

 Aldosterone antagonist

39 (7.3)

11 (6.9)

.94

 Digoxin

41 (7.6)

8 (5.1)

.36

 Thiazidine

34 (6.3)

12 (7.6)

.68

 None

29 (5.4)

19 (12)

.0060

 Unknown

13 (2.4)

7 (4.4)

.28

 Single

18 (3.3)

4 (2.5)

.81

 Dual

39 (7.3)

9 (5.7)

.63

 Triple

7 (1.3)

1 (0.6)

.80

Defibrillator

17 (3.2)

1 (0.6)

.14

 0

301 (60)

123 (82)

<.0001

 1

136 (27)

17 (11)

.00011

  ≥ 2

67 (13)

10 (6.6)

.039

Followed by a cardiologist

367 (72)

92 (60)

.0090

Residence

.54

 At home

445 (83)

124 (79)

 Retirement institution

82 (15)

30 (19)

 Other institution

8 (1.5)

3 (1.9)

Self-sufficient

273 (52)

98 (64)

.012

 Housekeeper

157 (30)

27 (18)

.0036

 Family support

138 (26)

41 (27)

.99

 Nurse

129 (24)

21 (14)

.0060

 Known cognitive impairment

85 (16)

24 (15)

.88

 Bedridden

48 (8.99)

18 (12)

.45