| Intervention group (n = 97) | Control group (n = 100) |
---|---|---|
Mean (SD; Range) number of patients per practice | 3.2 (1.2; 1-6) | 3.2 (1.7; 1-8) |
Practice type | Â | Â |
   single | 35 (36.1) | 38 (38.0) |
   group | 62 (63.9) | 62 (62.0) |
List size (patients per quarter) | Â | Â |
   0-1000 | 22 (22.7) | 26 (26.0) |
   1001-1500 | 25 (36.1) | 22 (22.0) |
   >1500 | 40 (41.2) | 42 (42.0) |
Male sex | 69 (71.1) | 74 (74.0) |
Mean (SD) age (years) | 70.4 (10.0) | 68.9 (9.7) |
Living alone | 26 (26.3) | 27 (27.0) |
Social class*: | (n = 81) | (n = 84) |
   lower, | 26 (32.1), | 25 (29.8), |
   middle, | 47 (58.0), | 52 (61.9), |
   upper class | 8 (9.9) | 7 (8.3) |
Participation of GP in Train the trainer-trial (GP received an) | Â | Â |
   intensive educational intervention | 14 (14.4) | 18 (18.0) |
   control educational intervention | 9 (9.3) | 10 (10.0) |
   no educational intervention | 74 (76.3) | 72 (72.0) |
NYHA-functional class (according to GP) | Â | Â |
   I | 1 (1.0) | 5 (5.0) |
   II | 63 (64.9) | 67 (67.0) |
   III | 33 (34.0) | 27 (27.0) |
   IV | 0 | 1 (1.0) |
Mean (SD) LVEF | 35.7 (7.5) (n = 83) | 37.6 (6.7) (n = 88) |
Main cause of CHF | Â | Â |
   ischemic | 46 (47.4) | 47 (47.0) |
   non-ischemic | 51 (52.6) | 53 (53.0) |
Mean (SD) duration (years) of CHF | 6.2 (4.6) (n = 79) | 6.8 (6.3) (n = 74) |
Localisation of CHF | Â | Â |
   Left | 61 (62.9) | 67 (67.0) |
   Left and right | 33 (34.0) | 31 (31.0) |
   Unknown | 3 (3.1) | 2 (2.0) |
Cardiovascular interventions | Â | Â |
   PTCA/Stent (any) | 29 (29.9) | 36 (36.0) |
   Bypass (any) | 21 (21.6) | 21 (21.0) |
   Pacemaker (right ventricular) | 16 (16.5) | 16 (16.0) |
   Pacemaker (biventricular) | 7 (7.2) | 8 (8.0) |
   ICD | 11 (11.3) | 21 (21.0) |
   Prosthetic heart valve (any) | 5 (5.2) | 7 (7.0) |
   Reanimation/Defibrillation | 8 (8.2) | 6 (6.0) |
Medical conditions | Â | Â |
   Atrial fibrillation | 25 (25.8) | 29 (29.0) |
   PAD | 17 (17.5) | 17 (17.0) |
   Cerebrovascular disease | 22 (22.7) | 16 (16.0) |
   Asthma | 7 (7.2) | 5 (5.0) |
   COPD | 25 (25.8) | 27 (27.0) |
   Depression | 22 (22.7) | 17 (17.0) |
Cardiovascular risk factors | Â | Â |
   Diabetes mellitus | 32 (33.0) | 35 (35.0) |
   Hypertension | 78 (80.4) | 78 (78.0) |
   Dyslipidemia | 63 (64.9) | 75 (75.0) |
   History of infarction before 60 years | 18 (18.6) | 16 (16.0) |
   Ex-/smoker (Ex: since at least 6 months) | 38/9 (39.2/9.3) | 42/14 (42.0/14.0) |
Mean number (SD) of drinks per week | 3.9 (5.5) | 4.7 (9.2) |
Creatinine-Clearance: Mean (SD) GFR (ml/min)** | 71.6 (31.4) (n = 96) | 71.6 (35.1) |
Stage of renal dysfunction | (n = 96) | Â |
   GFR ≥ 60 ml/min** | 54 (56.2) | 57 (57.0) |
   GFR 30-59 ml/min** | 39 (40.6) | 37 (37.0) |
   GFR ≤ 29 ml/min** | 3 (3.1) | 6 (6.0) |
Mean (SD) level of NT-pro-BNP [Median, IQR] in pg/ml | 2222.5 (5282.2) [1010.5, 1750] (n = 94) | 1828.6 (2914.9) [930, 1712] (n = 96) |
Drugs at baseline included: | Â | Â |
   ACE inhibitor or A2RA | 91 (93.8) | 95 (95.0) |
   β-blocker | 70 (72.2) | 84 (84.0) |
   ACE inhibitor/A2RA and β-blocker | 66 (68.0) | 80 (80.0) |
   Spironolactone/Eplerenone | 32 (33.0) | 26 (26.0) |
   Loop diuretics | 60 (61.9) | 59 (59.0) |
   Thiazide diuretics | 34 (35.1) | 41 (41.0) |
   Cardiac glycosides | 25 (25.8) | 26 (26.0) |
   Statins | 57 (58.8) | 58 (58.0) |
   Other lipid lowering drugs | 11 (11.3) | 14 (14.0) |
   Aspirin (100-300 mg/d) | 38 (39.2) | 43 (43.0) |
   Clopidogrel | 5 (5.2) | 5 (5.0) |
   Phenprocoumon (Vitamin K Antagonist: equivalent to Warfarin) | 41 (42.3) | 46 (46.0) |