Characteristics of participants who returned questionnaires (responders) versus those who did not (non-responders)
| Variable | Responders (n=53) | Non-responders (n=53) | p Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age | 71.1±10.3 | 70.9±12.1 | 0.93 |
| Male | 2 (3.8%) | 2 (3.8%) | 1.0 |
| Years since ABS presentation | 4.9±2.7 | 5.0±2.6 | 0.94 |
| Risk score >1* | 26 (54.2%) | 28 (52.8%) | 0.89 |
| Any stressor identified | 31 (58.5%) | 38 (71.0%) | 0.15 |
| Emotional stressor | 15 (28.3%) | 17 (32.1%) | 0.67 |
| ABS recurrence | 3 (5.7%) | 4 (7.6%) | 0.70 |
Results presented as mean±SD or number (%).
*(Mayo Clinic) risk score: 1 point each for the following components: age >70 years; presence of physical stressor; ejection fraction <40% on first presentation. Scores of 1, 2 or 3 points are associated with a 28%, 58% or 85% risk of acute heart failure, respectively.16
ABS, apical ballooning syndrome.