| Patient-reported NYHA class | Breathlessness Severity Score | |||||
| I/II (n = 175) | III/IV (n = 608) | p Value | 1–4 (less severe) (n = 397) | 5–6 (more severe) (n = 399) | p Value | |
| Age (years) | 64 (55–71) | 67 (60–73) | 0.01 | 66 (59–73) | 67 (60–72) | 0.92 |
| Age >70 years (%) | 49 (28%) | 218 (36%) | 0.14 | 143 (36%) | 131 (33%) | 0.37 |
| Male sex (%) | 134 (77%) | 443 (73%) | 0.41 | 314 (79%) | 269 (67%) | 0.001 |
| Ischaemic heart disease (%) | 60 (34.3%) | 263 (43%) | 0.04 | 153 (39%) | 177 (44%) | 0.10 |
| Systolic BP (mm Hg) | 113 (105–127) | 120 (107–130) | 0.34 | 120 (108–130) | 115 (103–128) | 0.005 |
| Peripheral oedema (%) | 19 (11%) | 129 (21%) | 0.0013 | 57 (14%) | 90 (23%) | 0.003 |
| Breathlessness limiting ADL. Score 5–6 (%) | 50 (29%) | 339 (56%) | <0.001 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Fatigue limiting ADL. Score 5–6 (%) | 39 (22%) | 298 (49%) | <0.001 | 64 (16%) | 280 (71%) | <0.001 |
| Overall health score 5–7 (%) | 55 (31%) | 354 (58%) | <0.001 | 140 (36%) | 278 (70%) | <0.001 |
| MLWHFQ (units) | 29.5 (16.0–47.0) | 45.0 (31.0–63.0) | <0.001 | 31.0 (19.0–44.0) | 55.0 (43.0–68.0) | <0.001 |
| EQ5D (units) | 0.78 (0.69–0.85) | 0.62 (0.38–0.76) | <0.001 | 0.73 (0.62–0.85) | 0.62 (0.29–0.71) | <0.001 |
| QRS width (msec) | 160 (150–180) | 160 (152–180) | 0.49 | 160 (152–180) | 160 (152–178) | 0.97 |
| LV ejection fraction (%) | 24.8 (21.4–28.7) | 24.7 (21.6–29.2) | 0.73 | 24.7 (21.8–29.4) | 24.7 (21.2–28.3) | 0.16 |
| LV end-systolic volume (ml/m2) | 122 (94–149) | 117 (93–148) | 0.41 | 121 (93–148) | 119 (95–151) | 0.77 |
| Mitral regurgitation (units) | 20.8 (12.9–30.5) | 22.0 (10.6–34.1) | 0.30 | 21.0 (10.8–31.0) | 23.2 (11.6–36.5) | 0.04 |
| NT-pro-BNP (pg/ml) | 1776 (693–3074) | 1852 (761–4406) | 0.41 | 1683 (744–3628) | 2080 (740–4804) | 0.05 |
| GFR (ml/min/1.73 m2) | 65.6 (47.9–78.6) | 58.8 (45.4–71.3) | 0.005 | 63.6 (48.0–77.9) | 57.2 (44.2–69.6) | <0.001 |
| Furosemide ⩾80 mg/day (%) | 66 (38%) | 281 (46%) | 0.10 | 146 (37%) | 197 (49%) | <0.001 |
| Digoxin (%) | 79 (45%) | 256 (42%) | 0.64 | 168 (42%) | 171 (43%) | 0.89 |
| ACEi or ARB (%) | 172 (98%) | 570 (94%) | 0.03 | 380 (96%) | 374 (94%) | 0.27 |
| β-Blocker (%) | 142 (81%) | 420 (69%) | 0.004 | 294 (74%) | 279 (70%) | 0.21 |
| Spironolactone (%) | 95 (54%) | 345 (57%) | 0.84 | 216 (54%) | 231 (58%) | 0.35 |
Data shown are percentages or median and inter-quartile range.
ACEi, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor; ADL, activities of daily living; ARB, angiotensin receptor blocker; BP, blood pressure; EQ5D, Euroqol quality of life score; GFR, glomerular filtration rate; LV, left ventricular; MLWHFQ, Minnesota living with heart failure questionnaire; N/A, analysis not appropriate; NT-pro-BNP, N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide.