Table 2. New and “New Plus Already Known” Diagnoses* in 389 Frail Elderly With Dyspnea and/or Reduced Exercise Tolerance
Diagnosed ConditionsNew DiagnosesNew Plus Already Known Diagnoses
Cardiac diseases
    Heart failure127 (33.5)145 (38.3)
        With reduced ejection fraction36 (9.5)46 (12.1)
        With preserved ejection fraction89 (23.5)97 (25.6)
        Isolated right-sided2 (0.5)2 (0.5)
    Left ventricular dysfunction81 (34.6)X
        Systolic3 (1.3)X
        Diastolic78 (33.3)X
    Atrial fibrillation7 (1.8)44 (11.3)
    Valvular disease§81 (21.4)93 (24.6)
        Aortic regurgitation (≥grade 2/4)10 (2.6)14 (3.7)
        Aortic stenosis (moderate to severe)14 (3.7)16 (4.2)
        Mitral regurgitation (≥grade 2/4)67 (17.7)74 (19.6)
Pulmonary diseases
    COPD65 (16.8)134 (34.7)
        GOLD I31 (8.2)53 (14.0)
        GOLD II28 (7.4)59 (15.6)
        GOLD III3 (0.8)11 (2.9)
        GOLD IV0 (0)0 (0)
    Persisting asthma12 (3.1)39 (10.1)
    Restriction9 (2.3)X
Other diseases
    Hypertension3 (0.8)319 (82.0)
    Diabetes mellitus3 (0.8)138 (35.5)
    Anemia49 (12.7)63 (16.3)
    Hyperthyroidism1 (0.3)16 (4.2)
    Hypothyroidism1 (0.3)20 (5.2)
    Renal dysfunction (mL/min/1.73 m2)86 (22.2)97 (25.0)
        30–6085 (21.9)96 (24.7)
        <301 (0.3)1 (0.3)
  • Data are number (%).

  • * Patients could have more than one diagnosis.

  • There were 525 new diagnoses detected in 297 patients: 148 had 1, 94 had 2, 38 had 3, 11 had 4, 5 had 5, and 1 had 6. Because of an incomplete screening strategy or a nonassessable test, there were 10 instances of missing data on heart failure and dysfunction, 11 on valvular disease, 1 on atrial fibrillation, 3 on COPD, 11 on GOLD classification, 4 on asthma en restriction, 3 on anemia, and 4 on hypo- and hyperthyroidism.

  • Left ventricular dysfunction without signs or symptoms of heart failure.

  • § Patients could have more than one valve disorder.

  • COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; GOLD, Global Inititative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease; X = no such diagnosis in the electronic medical file at the primary care physician's office.