Table 1 Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, physical symptoms, and self-care behaviours among patients in the current analysis and the primary study (N = 189)

Age

64.88 ± 12.77

Sex (Female)

71 (37.6)

Education background

 Primary school and below

81 (42.9)

 High school

91 (48.1)

 College and above

17 (9.0)

Marital status

 Being married

158 (83.6)

 Single/widowed/divorced

31 (16.4)

Employment status (Unemployed)

163 (86.2)

Months since HF diagnosis

24 (3–60)^a

Hospitalized due to HF in the past year (Yes)

180 (95.2)

CCI

3.83 ± 1.47

NYHA class

 II

27 (14.3)

 III

84 (44.4)

 IV

78 (41.3)

Physical symptoms score (total range: 0–90)

25.89 ± 12.65

 Dyspnoea (range: 0–30)

11.61 ± 6.51

 Oedema (range: 0–15)

4.31 ± 2.79

 Chest discomfort (range: 0–10)

3.30 ± 2.27

 Subtle early symptoms (range: 0–35)

6.22 ± 3.77