Table 1 Baseline characteristics of participants
Characteristic | % (number) |
|---|---|
General health fair or poor | 47% (216/460) |
Phlegm most days a week | 52% (239/458) |
Shortness of breath most days a week | 62% (288/461) |
4 or more bouts of severe chest trouble over winter | 22% (99/457) |
Able to walk only 100m or less on the flat before stopping for breath | 42% (192/457) |
At least one cold/flu over winter | 65% (294/453) |
Ever told have heart disease | 47% (210/446) |
Ever told have at least 2 of heart disease, cancer, liver disease, renal disease, diabetes, arthritis | 42% (179/430) |
On home oxygen | 8% (39/460) |
Received flu vaccine | 84% (387/458) |
Received pneumonia (pneumococcal) vaccine | 22% (96/420) |
Lived in dwelling for more than 9 years | 63% (290/463) |
Dwelling built before 1977 | 72% (303/422) |
Own the dwelling | 76% (350/462) |
Dwelling always cold | 42% (196/462) |
Cold at least partly to keep cost of heating down | 48% (213/445) |
Shivered inside at least once previous winter | 56% (249/445) |
‘Dragon breath’ inside at least once previous winter | 39% (177/450) |
Plug in medical equipment | 21% (94/454) |
Gave “no other choice” as a reason for main form of heating | 43% (193/450) |
Gave cheap or easy to budget with as reason for main form of heating | 29% (129/450) |
Eligible for a high use health card* | 60% (251/416) |
Eligible for community services card ** | 77% (337/438) |
Receive a disability allowance | 51% (220/435) |
Currently smoke daily | 17% (81/463) |
European ethnicity | 77% (349/452) |
Māori ethnicity | 20% (92/452) |
Pacific ethnicity | 2% (10/452) |
Male | 50% (228/456) |
Aged under 65 | 27% (122/455) |
Aged over 80 | 18% (81/455) |
Median age | 71 Years |