The characteristics of the patients recruited at baseline
are shown in Table 1. The average age was 70.5 years, and
70% were men. The median length of stay was 8 days. The
majority of patients (62%) lived with a partner or family. At
time of discharge, 36 (40%) were in NYHA Class II, 25 (28%)
were in NYHA Class III, with 9% in either NYHA Class I or IV.
Using the HADS scale, 23% of patients were ‘probably’
depressed at baseline, and a similar proportion of patients
were ‘probably’ anxious.