Table 1 Baseline descriptive characteristics for patients admitted for myocardial infarction, stroke and heart failure
|  | Myocardial infarction (n = 2639) | Stroke (n = 2500) | Heart failure (n = 2873) |
|---|---|---|---|
Age (years ± SD) | 77.3 ± 7.1 | 78.4 ± 6.8 | 79.8 ± 6.8 |
Sex | |||
 Male | 1709 (65%) | 1453 (58%) | 1692 (59%) |
 Female | 930 (35%) | 1047 (42%) | 1181 (41%) |
Country of origin | |||
 Australia | 1885 (73%) | 1768 (72%) | 2070 (73%) |
 Other | 711 (27%) | 682 (28%) | 751 (27%) |
Education | |||
 Did not complete high school (HS) | 1149 (45%) | 1081 (45%) | 1382 (50%) |
 HS/Apprenticeship/Diploma | 1089 (43%) | 1011 (42%) | 1058 (39%) |
 University of higher | 296 (12%) | 324 (13%) | 301 (11%) |
Income | |||
 < $20,000 | 976 (42%) | 932 (42%) | 1168 (46%) |
 $20,000–$49,999 | 658 (28%) | 613 (27%) | 625 (25%) |
 $50,000–$69,999 | 100 (4%) | 99 (4%) | 106 (4%) |
 $70,000 or more | 117 (5%) | 127 (6%) | 101 (4%) |
 Not specified | 498 (21%) | 466 (21%) | 518 (21%) |
Marital status | |||
 Single | 121 (5%) | 117 (5%) | 120 (4%) |
 Married/partner | 1693 (64%) | 1552 (62%) | 1628 (57%) |
 Widowed/divorced/separated | 813 (31%) | 815 (33%) | 1102 (39%) |
Comorbidity | |||
 None | 1220 (46%) | 1157 (46%) | 1159 (40%) |
 1 | 974 (37%) | 937 (37%) | 1090 (38%) |
 2 | 379 (14%) | 314 (13%) | 479 (17%) |
 3 or more | 66 (3%) | 92 (4%) | 145 (5%) |
Body mass index | |||
 Underweight | 260 (10%) | 303 (12%) | 314 (11%) |
 Healthy weight | 909 (35%) | 937 (38%) | 905 (32%) |
 Overweight | 973 (37%) | 880 (36%) | 969 (34%) |
 Obese | 463 (18%) | 354 (14%) | 641 (23%) |
High blood pressure | |||
 Yes | 1407 (53%) | 1257 (50%) | 1600 (56%) |
 No | 1232 (47%) | 1243 (50%) | 1273 (44%) |
Diabetes | |||
 Yes | 516 (20%) | 403 (16%) | 659 (23%) |
 No | 2123 (80%) | 2097 (84%) | 2214 (77%) |
Self-reported health | |||
 Excellent | 124 (5%) | 148 (6%) | 68 (3%) |
 Very good | 642 (26%) | 600 (25%) | 441 (17%) |
 Good | 1033 (41%) | 964 (41%) | 1078 (41%) |
 Fair | 561 (23%) | 535 (23%) | 843 (32%) |
 Poor | 133 (5%) | 109 (5%) | 227 (9%) |
Smoking status | |||
 Never smoker | 1416 (54%) | 1404 (56%) | 1497 (52%) |
 Past smoker | 1079 (41%) | 982 (39%) | 1244 (44%) |
 Current smoker | 131 (5%) | 102 (4%) | 106 (4%) |
Anxiety and depression | |||
 Low | 1992 (81%) | 1900 (82%) | 2084 (78%) |
 Moderate | 316 (13%) | 281 (12%) | 390 (15%) |
 High | 101 (4%) | 97 (4%) | 134 (5%) |
 Very high | 39 (2%) | 32 (1%) | 50 (2%) |
Sufficient physical activity | |||
 Yes | 1250 (47%) | 1223 (49%) | 1134 (39%) |
 No | 1389 (53%) | 1277 (51%) | 1739 (61%) |
Safe alcohol drinking | |||
 Yes | 2096 (83%) | 1966 (82%) | 2246 (82%) |
 No | 422 (17%) | 436 (18%) | 487 (18%) |
Medication | |||
 None | 296 (11%) | 287 (11%) | 229 (8%) |
 1–4 | 1540 (58%) | 1534 (61%) | 1539 (54%) |
 5 or more | 803 (30%) | 679 (27%) | 1105 (38%) |