| Age (years) | 75.5 ± 6.1 |
| Male sex | 174 (44.7) |
| BMI (kg/m2) | 28.2 ± 4.4 |
| Heart rate/minute | 69 ± 11 |
| Respiratory rate per minute | 15 ± 3 |
| Blood pressure (mm Hg) | |
| Systolic | 139 ± 18 |
| Diastolic | 76 ± 9 |
| Smoking | 138 (35.5) |
| Never | |
| Former | 214 (55.0) |
| Current | 37 (9.5) |
| Medical history* | |
| Comorbidities (number), median (IQR) | 4 (3–4) |
| Heart failure | 22 (5.7) |
| COPD | 67 (17.2) |
| Asthma (persistent) | 36 (9.3) |
| Anemia | 14 (3.6) |
| Renal dysfunction | 12 (3.1) |
| Thyroid dysfunction | 34 (8.7) |
| Ischemic heart disease† | 125 (32.1) |
| Valvular disease | 23 (5.9) |
| Cardiac rhythm disorders‡ | 54 (13.9) |
| Hypertension | 316 (81.2) |
| Diabetes mellitus | 135 (34.7) |
| Stroke or TIA | 44 (11.3) |
| Symptoms | |
| Orthopnea§ | 39 (10.0) |
| Ankle swelling | 105 (27.0) |
| Nocturia (≥2 times a night) | 199 (51.2) |
| Loss of appetite | 33 (8.5) |
| Chest pain suggestive for angina pectoris | 32 (8.2) |
| Palpitations | 109 (28.0) |
| Cough (>3 months a year) | 66 (17.0) |
| Wheezing | 104 (26.7) |
| Inhalation allergy | 79 (20.3) |
| Bronchial hyperreactivity | 76 (19.5) |
| Medications, median (IQR)‖ | 5 (4–7) |
| Diuretics | 212 (54.5) |
| Spironolactone | 18 (4.6) |
| β-Blockers | 187 (48.1) |
| ACEIs/ARBs | 239 (61.4) |
| Cholesterol-lowering drugs | 232 (59.6) |
| Inhaled long-acting β2-agonists | 60 (15.4) |
| Inhaled anticholinergics | 56 (14.4) |
| Inhaled corticosteroids | 73 (18.8) |
Data are mean ± standard deviation or number (%) unless otherwise indicated.
↵* Comorbidities were based on the primary care physician's electronic medical record; actual medication use from pharmacy records was added to the diagnosis of anemia, thyroid dysfunction, and diabetes mellitus; for hypertension, the electronic medical record was extended with self-reported hypertension.
↵† Ischemic heart disease included prior myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, coronary artery bypass grafting, and percutaneous coronary intervention.
↵‡ Cardiac rhythm disorders included atrial fibrillation and pacemakers.
↵§ Orthopnea included paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea.
↵‖ Based on actual medication use (pharmacy records); 2 instances of missing data on orthopnea and one on loss of appetite.
ACEI, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor; ARB, angiotensin receptor blocker; BMI, body mass index; COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; IQR, interquartile range; TIA, transient ischemic attack.