Characteristics of the practices and patients at baseline
| Characteristic | Intervention number (%) | Control number (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Practice factors | ||
| Number of practices | 24 | 24 |
| Practice size | ||
| <2 whole time equivalents | 9 (47) | 10 (53) |
| ≥2 whole time equivalents | 15 (52) | 14 (48) |
| Region | ||
| Northern Ireland | 8 (33) | 8 (33) |
| Republic of Ireland | 16 (67) | 16 (67) |
| Patient factors | ||
| Number of patients | 444 | 459 |
| Men | 312 (70) | 321 (70) |
| Mean (SD) age (years) | 68.5 (9.3) | 66.5 (9.9) |
| Mean (SD) years since diagnosis | 8.3 (6.6) | 8.2 (6.5) |
| Myocardial infarction | 220 (50) | 233 (51) |
| Angina | 390 (88) | 414 (90) |
| Diabetes | 78 (17.6) | 82 (17.9) |
| Coronary artery bypass grafting | 114 (25.7) | 124 (27.1) |
| PTCA | 126 (28.4) | 149 (32.6) |
| Eligible for General Medical Scheme* | 234 (82.4) | 218 (73.4) |
| Married | 288 (67) | 315 (70) |
| Manual occupation† | 134 (42) | 172 (51) |
| Completed secondary education† | 179 (42) | 145 (33) |
| Physiological variables | ||
| Mean (SD) systolic blood pressure (mm Hg) | 136.2 (22.2) | 136.8 (21.2) |
| Mean (SD) diastolic blood pressure (mm Hg) | 78.4 (12.0) | 79.5 (11.3) |
| Mean (SD) total cholesterol (mmol/L) | 4.40 (0.90) | 4.34 (0.92) |
*Republic of Ireland only. Primary healthcare is free through the General Medical Services scheme only to those judged less able to pay for such services—approximately one-third of the Irish population.
†Variables prespecified as covariates in the analysis.