Table 1 Demographic data, medical information and outcome variables in study patients at baseline

Age year (mean ± SD)

54.3 ± 16.5

56.8 ± 15.5

.416

Sex n (%)

.639

 Females

32 (59)

35 (64)

 Males

22 (41)

20 (36)

Marital status, n (%)

.081

 Married/ Co-habitants

45 (83)

38 (69)

 Single

9 (17)

17 (31)

Economic situation n (%)

.453

 Good

47 (87)

45 (82)

 Problematic

7 (13)

10 (18)

Educational level n (%)

.892

 Elementary/ High school

30 (56)

33 (60)

 University

24 (44)

22 (40)

Occupational status n (%)

.776

 Working

26 (48)

28 (51)

 No working

28 (52)

27 (49)

Smoking n (%)

.970

 None/previous smoker

49 (91)

48 (87)

 Smoker

5 (9)

7 (13)

Alcohol consumption n (%)

.763

 No drinking (0–4 glasses)

83 (45)

85 (47)

 Drinking (> 5 glasses)

17 (4)

18 (8)

Charlson Comorbidity Index (mean ± SD)

2.2 (2.4)

2.5 (2.1)

.566

Previous heart disease n (%)

18 (33)

15 (27)

.496

Psychotherapy n (%)

8 (15)

5 (9)

.357

Psychotropic treatment n (%)

23 (43)

25 (45)

.763

Cardiac Anxiety at baseline (CAQ, mean ± SD)

36 (8)

36 (9)

.959

 CAQ Fear at baseline (mean ± SD)

19 (4)

19 (5)

.901

 CAQ Avoidance at baseline (mean ± SD)

8 (4)

8 (4)

.735

 CAQ Attention at baseline (mean ± SD)

9 (4)

9 (3)

.460

Fear of bodily sensations at baseline (BSQ, mean ± SD)

43 (14)

42 (12)

.621

Depressive symptoms at baseline (PHQ9, mean ± SD)

8 (6)

8 (6)

.755

Health-related quality of life at baseline (EQ-VAS, mean ± SD)

59 (20)

66 (17)

.031

Chest pain frequency at baseline (mean ± SD)

15 (13)

9 (11)

.006