TABLE 1.
Sociodemographic and Clinical Characteristics of the Sample (N = 631)
| Mean ± SD or n (%) | |
|---|---|
| Age (N = 626), y | 64.6 ± 14.3 |
| Gender (N = 628) | |
| Male | 396 (63.1) |
| Female | 232 (36.9) |
| Race (N = 604) | |
| Black/African American | 131 (21.7) |
| White/Caucasian | 432 (71.5) |
| Asian | 5 (0.8) |
| Other (eg, mixed race) | 36 (6) |
| Ethnicity (N = 455) | |
| Hispanic | 36(7.9) |
| Non-Hispanic | 419(92.1) |
| Highest education (N = 608) | |
| Less than high school graduate | 61 (10) |
| High school graduate, vocational, or trade school | 212 (34.9) |
| Some college or associate degree | 214(35.2) |
| Bachelor’s degree or higher | 121 (19.9) |
| Employment (N = 608) | |
| Employed | 131 (21.6) |
| Unemployed or retired | 477 (78.5) |
| Marital status (N = 631) | |
| Single, never married | 112(17.8) |
| Married or partnered | 346 (54.8) |
| Divorced, separated, or widowed | 173 (27.4) |
| Self-reported income (N = 613) | |
| More than enough to make ends meet | 206 (33.6) |
| Enough to make ends meet | 279 (45.5) |
| Not have enough to make ends meet | 128 (20.9) |
| HF duration in months (N = 514) | 126.7 ±130.4 |
| Categorized Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) score (N = 629) | |
| Low level (CCI 1–2) | 337 (53.4) |
| Moderate level (CCI 3–4) | 188 (29.8) |
| High level (CCI > 5) | 106 (16.8) |
| Common comorbid conditionsa | |
| Hypertension | 406 (64.3) |
| Diabetes | 253 (40.1) |
| Arthritis | 247 (39.2) |
| Dysrhythmiab | 135 (31.2) |
| Other heart condition | 190 (30.2) |
| Pulmonary disease | 183 (29.1) |
| Renal disease | 142 (22.6) |
| Solid tumor cancer | 83(13.2) |
| Neurological disorders | 78(12.4) |
| Mental health issueb | 46(10.6) |
| Anemiab | 43 (9.9) |
| Peripheral vascular diseaseb | 29 (6.7) |
| Gastrointestinal diseaseb | 26 (6) |
| Liver disease | 32 (5.1) |
| Blood cancerb | 9(2.1) |
| Other diseasesb | 57(13.2) |
Abbreviation: HF, heart failure.
a
Each disease was treated individually, so the percentage under “common comorbidity conditions” is not 100.
b
Only some of the patients (433/631) were asked about these specific comorbid conditions.