Table 1 Demographic, clinical characteristics, self-reported general health and illness perceptions by sex

Age, mean (SD)

67.5 (12.5)

66.6 (12.2)

69.8 (13.1)

Education level, N (%)

N = 215

n = 152

n = 63

 < High school

71 (33.0)

48 (31.6)

23 (36.5)

 High school

82 (38.1)

57 (37.5)

25 (39.7)

 ≥ University

62 (28.8)

47 (30.9)

15 (23.8)

Work status, N (%)

N = 216

n = 152

n = 64

 Working

33 (15.3)

25 (16.3)

8 (12.7)

 Not working

183 (84.7)

128 (83.7)

55 (87.3)

Functional capacity, N (%)

N = 208

n = 146

n = 62

 NYHA Class I

18 (8.7)

16 (11.0)

2 (3.2)

 NYHA Class II

99 (47.6)

76 (52.1)

23 (37.1)

 NYHA Class III

91 (43.8)

54 (37.0)

37 (59.7)

HADS Anxiety, mean (SD)

4.7 (4.0)

4.3 (3.3)

5.7 (3.8)

HADS Anxiety, N (%)

N = 219

n = 156

n = 63

 Normal 0–7

168 (76.7)

125 (80.1)

43 (68.3)

 Borderline 8–10

35 (16.0)

20 (12.8)

15 (23.8)

 Case of morbidity ≥11

16 (7.3)

11 (7.1)

5 (7.9)

HADS Depression, mean (SD)

4.8 (3.5)

4.8 (3.7)

5.0 (3.3)

HADS Depression, N (%)

N = 220

n = 156

n = 64

 Normal 0–7

177 (80.5)

126 (80.8)

51 (79.7)

 Borderline 8–10

25 (11.4)

17 (10.9)

8 (12.5)

 Case of morbidity ≥11

18 (8.2)

13 (8.3)

5 (7.8)

Self-reported general health

N = 213

n = 150

n = 63

 EQ-VAS, mean (SD)

53.81 (20.96)

54.15 (21.51)

52.98 (1.77)

Illness perceptions, mean (SD)

N = 220

n = 156

n = 64

 Consequences

5.77 (2.5)

5.69 (2.5)

5.95 (2.5)

 Timeline

9.07 (1.9)

8.98 (1.9)

9.29 (1.9)

 Personal control

5.94 (2.3)

5.79 (2.3)

6.30 (2.1)

 Treatment control

7.84 (2.1)

7.77 (2.1)

8.02 (1.9)

 Identity

5.45 (2.7)

5.15 (2.7)

6.17 (2.5)

 Illness concern

4.26 (3.1)

4.03 (3.1)

4.83 (3.0)

 Coherence

7.11 (2.2)

7.26 (2.1)

6.77 (2.5)

 Emotional representation

4.62 (3.0)

4.35 (3.1)

5.30 (2.8)