Figure 1

Study scheme. S = small (2400 patients), M = medium (4800 patients), L = large (7200 patients), COPD = chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, HF = heart failure, MDS = Minimal Data Set, SF36 = 36 Item Short-Form Health status questionnaire, PE = physical examination, ECG = electrocardiogram, VAS = visual analog scale, MRC = Medical Research Council dyspnoea questionnaire, GP = general practitioner, ^#other includes cognitive problems (like dementia) and unable to travel to the general practice, ^*after sending 2 written invitations.