Clinical characteristics of study subjects and baseline treatment
| Parameter total number | Mean (SEM) or number |
|---|---|
| *Based on global left ventricular dilatation and lack of symptoms or signs of ischaemic heart disease at any time. | |
| ACE, angiotensin converting enzyme; LVEF, left ventricular ejection fraction; NYHA, New York Heart Association; SDANN, average of NN intervals for all five minute segments; SDNNi, mean (SD) of NN intervals for all five minute segments. | |
| Age (years) | 69 (1.3) |
| Diastolic blood pressure (mm Hg) | 72 (2.2) |
| Systolic blood pressure (mm Hg) | 126 (3.7) |
| Heart rate (beats/min) | 72 (2.2) |
| 24 hour SDANN | 142 (7.2) |
| 24 hour SDNNi | 70 (8.1) |
| Weight (kg) | 77 (2) |
| Body mass index | 30 (0.8) |
| Plasma urea (mmol/l) | 7 (0.8) |
| Plasma creatinine (μmol/l) | 131 (6.8) |
| Plasma sodium (mmol/l) | 136 (0.3) |
| Plasma ACE activity(U/l) | 12 (3.4) |
| NYHA class II/III/IV | 20/11/3 |
| LVEF (%) | 29 (1.3) |
| Previous myocardial infarction | 32 |
| Dilated cardiomyopathy* | 2 |
| Baseline treatment | |
| Furosemide (frusemide) | 29 |
| ACE inhibitor | 29 |
| Nitrate | 14 |
| Digoxin | 12 |
| Aspirin | 22 |