Table 1. Characteristics of participants.
| N | n | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sociodemographic characteristics | ||||
| Sex | Female | 310 | 295 | 95.2 |
| Male | 14 | 4.5 | ||
| Prefer not to say | 1 | 0.3 | ||
| Current age | 50 or younger | 310 | 84 | 27.1 |
| 51–60 | 134 | 43.2 | ||
| Over 60 years | 92 | 29.7 | ||
| Country of birth | Australia | 310 | 243 | 78.4 |
| Outside Australia | 67 | 21.6 | ||
| Partner status | Married/partnered | 309 | 246 | 79.6 |
| Divorced/separated | 37 | 12.0 | ||
| Widowed | 9 | 2.9 | ||
| Never married | 17 | 5.5 | ||
| Education | Secondary | 310 | 43 | 13.9 |
| Trade or certificate | 69 | 22.3 | ||
| University degree/post-graduate | 198 | 63.9 | ||
| Employment status | Employed | 310 | 256 | 82.6 |
| Unemployed | 6 | 1.9 | ||
| Not in paid workforce | 48 | 15.5 | ||
| Insurance status | Have health insurance | 310 | 236 | 76.1 |
| No health insurance | 74 | 23.9 | ||
| Psychosocial characteristics | ||||
| Lives alone | 310 | 44 | 14.2 | |
| No close confidante | 310 | 35 | 11.3 | |
| Recent bereavement a | 310 | 67 | 21.6 | |
| Financial strain | 310 | 94 | 30.3 | |
| Current anxiety (GAD7 ≥10)b | 290 | 60 | 20.7 | |
| Current depression (PHQ9 ≥10) b | 287 | 60 | 20.9 | |
| Mental health history prior to SCAD | 310 | 97 | 31.3 | |
| Medical characteristics | ||||
| Time since last SCAD c | Within previous year | 310 | 42 | 13.5 |
| 1–3 years ago | 84 | 27.1 | ||
| 3–5 years ago | 69 | 22.3 | ||
| 5+ years ago | 115 | 37.1 | ||
| Total number SCADs | One | 310 | 241 | 77.7 |
| Two | 46 | 14.8 | ||
| Three | 16 | 5.2 | ||
| Four | 4 | 1.3 | ||
| Five | 3 | 1.0 | ||
| SCAD treatments | Medication | 310 | 256 | 82.6 |
| Percutaneous coronary intervention | 310 | 42 | 13.5 | |
| Coronary artery bypass surgery | 310 | 6 | 1.9 | |
| Implantable cardioverter defibrillator | 310 | 3 | 1.0 | |
| SCAD-specific risk factors | Migraine | 310 | 102 | 32.9 |
| Fibromuscular dysplasia | 310 | 53 | 17.1 | |
| Inflammatory disorder | 310 | 21 | 6.8 | |
| Connective tissue disorder | 310 | 5 | 1.6 | |
| Traditional cardiac risk factors | High blood pressure | 310 | 92 | 29.7 |
| High cholesterol | 310 | 39 | 12.6 | |
| Obesity | 310 | 33 | 10.6 | |
| Sleep apnoea | 310 | 28 | 9.0 | |
| Diabetes | 310 | 8 | 2.6 | |
| Gestational diabetes | 310 | 5 | 1.6 | |
| Cigarette smoking | 310 | 6 | 1.9 | |
| Cormorbidities | Musculoskeletal condition | 310 | 54 | 17.4 |
| Stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack | 310 | 8 | 2.6 | |
| Cancer | 310 | 4 | 1.3 | |
| Supports after SCAD | ||||
| Attended cardiac rehabilitation c | 310 | 195 | 62.9 | |
| Joined Facebook support group | 310 | 194 | 62.6 | |
| Attended online support group | 310 | 19 | 6.1 | |
| Attended face-to-face support group | 310 | 9 | 2.9 | |
N = 310.
a in past 12 months
b in past two weeks
c since most recent SCAD. Recent bereavement = having lost a relative or friend in the past 12 months. Financial strain = reports of moderate, considerable or extreme financial strain. PTSD = post-traumatic stress disorder; GAD7 = Generalised Anxiety Disorder 7-item; PHQ9 = Patient Health Questionnaire 9-item; Mental health history = reports of history of anxiety, depression or post-traumatic stress disorder; SCAD = spontaneous coronary artery dissection.