Age (years) (mean (SD)) | 63.6 (10.5) | 63.6 (10.3) |
Age ≥70 years | 513 (32.7) | 475 (29.8) |
Male sex | 1251 (79.8) | 1265 (79.3) |
Race | | |
White | 1417 (90.4) | 1451 (90.9) |
Afro-Caribbean | 99 (6.3) | 105 (6.6) |
Other* | 52 (3.3) | 40 (2.5) |
Aetiology of chronic heart failure† | | |
Ischaemic heart disease | 999 (63.7) | 1036 (64.9) |
Hypertension | 301 (19.2) | 332 (20.8) |
Idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy | 453 (28.9) | 437 (27.4) |
Valvar disease | 96 (6.1) | 88 (5.5) |
Aetiology unknown/not specified | 43 (2.7) | 43 (2.7) |
Other cause | 77 (4.9) | 66 (4.1) |
NYHA class | | |
II | 262 (16.7) | 231 (14.5) |
III | 1194 (76.1) | 1252 (78.4) |
IV | 112 (7.1) | 113 (7.1) |
LVEF (%) (mean (SD)) | 22.6 (5.7) | 22.6 (5.6) |
Weight (kg) (mean (SD)) | 78.9 (16.0) | 78.9 (16.7) |
Previous ACE inhibitor | | |
Yes | 1390 (88.6) | 1420 (89.0) |
Previous myocardial infarction | | |
Yes | 864 (55.1) | 887 (55.6) |
Severe or unstable angina pectoris | | |
Yes | 226 (14.4) | 250 (15.7) |
Atrial fibrillation | | |
Yes | 286 (18.2) | 276 (17.3) |
Duration of heart failure (years) (mean (SD)) | 3.4 (3.5) | 3.4 (3.5) |
Heart rate (beats/min) (mean (SD)) | 80 (14)a | 80 (15)b |
Blood chemistry/haematology | | |
Sodium (mmol/l) (mean (SD)) | 139.4 (3.8)c | 139.5 (3.6)d |
Potassium (mmol/l) (mean (SD)) | 4.5 (0.5)e | 4.5 (0.5)f |
Creatinine (μmol/l) (mean (SD)) | 119.7 (31.9)g | 121.3 (33.1)h |
Haemoglobin (g/l) (mean (SD)) | 143 (15)i | 143 (15)j |