Table 1.
Characteristics of the study cohort (n = 350)
| Characteristic | Number (%)/Mean ± SD |
|---|---|
| Male | 243 (69.4) |
| Age (years) | 61.2 ± 12.6 |
| New York Heart Association class | |
| Class I | 158 (45.1) |
| Class II | 135 (38.6) |
| Class III | 45 (12.9) |
| Class IV | 1 (0.3) |
| Unknown | 11 (3.1) |
| Time since diagnosis of heart failure (years) | 7.3 ± 8.3 |
| Number of concurrent disease states | 2.5 ± 0.9 |
| Number of clinic visits in the last 12 months | 2.6 ± 1.5 |
| Number of heart failure medications used | 4.0 ± 1.3 |
| Use of specific heart failure medications | |
| β-Blockers | 302 (86.3) |
| Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors | 246 (70.3) |
| Furosemide | 222 (63.4) |
| Digoxin | 211 (60.3) |
| Spironolactone | 199 (56.9) |
| Angiotensin receptor blockers | 69 (19.7) |
| Hydralazine/nitrate | 20 (5.7) |
| Number of total regular medications used | 8.0 ± 3.1 |
| Frequency of daily medication use | 2.5 ± 0.94 |
| Refill adherence of all medications (%) | 98.5 ± 6.5 |
| Refill adherence of heart failure medications (%) | 93.4 ± 8.6 |
| Use of adherence aids | 186 (53.1) |
| Use of over-the-counter medications | 302 (86.3) |
| Use of complementary medicine products | 119 (34) |
| Use of antidepressants | 70 (20) |
| Highest level of education | |
| Elementary school | 16 (4.6) |
| Some high school | 68 (19.4) |
| High school graduate | 78 (22.3) |
| Some university/college training | 66 (18.9) |
| University/college undergraduate degree | 71 (20.3) |
| Graduate degree (Masters, PhD, etc.) | 18 (5.1) |
| No response | 33 (9.4) |
| Born in North America | 230 (69.9) |
| Current smoker | 23 (6.6) |
| Lives alone ± visiting caregiver | 57 (18.4) |