Baseline characteristics and drug treatment
Characteristics | |
---|---|
Data are numbers (%) or mean (SD). | |
ACE, angiotensin converting enzyme; NT-proBNP, N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide. | |
*World Health Organization classification of dyspnoea (grade 2, dyspnoea when vacuum cleaning or climbing stairs to the second floor; grade 3, when walking on an even road; grade 4, at minimum exertion; grade 5, orthopnoea; grade 6, at rest). | |
†Geometric mean concentration and 95% confidence interval. | |
‡Normal ECG with absence of arrhythmias, ST deviations, Q waves, hypertrophy, and abnormal left ventricular axis according to the Minnesota code. | |
Demographic data | |
Male/female | 290 (43%)/382 (57%) |
Age (years) | |
50–59 | 174 (26%) |
60–69 | 204 (30%) |
70–79 | 174 (26%) |
⩾ 80 | 120 (18%) |
Median (range) | 68.1 (51.2–91.3) |
Current daily smoker | 237 (35%) |
Clinical history | |
Dyspnoea grade* | |
2 | 84 (13%) |
3 | 51 (8%) |
4 | 47 (7%) |
5 | 14 (2%) |
6 | 23 (3%) |
Total | 219 (33%) |
Ankle oedema | 155 (23%) |
Ischaemic heart disease | 96 (14%) |
Hypertension | 169 (25%) |
Angina | 83 (12%) |
Diabetes mellitus | |
Insulin treated | 7 (1%) |
Non-insulin treated | 36 (5%) |
Measurements | |
Atrial fibrillation | 24 (4%) |
Heart rate (beats/min) | 75.4 (13.4) |
Systolic blood pressure (mm Hg) | 144 (23.2) |
Diastolic blood pressure (mm Hg) | 86.6 (12.2) |
Ejection fraction | |
⩽ 50% | 77 (11%) |
⩽ 45% | 58 (9%) |
⩽ 40% | 38 (6%) |
⩽ 35% | 21 (3%) |
Median (range) | 60 (10–60) |
NT-proBNP (pmol/l)† | 35.7 (32.8 to 38.9) |
Abnormal ECG‡ | 197 (30%) |
Drug treatment | |
Loop diuretics | 37 (6%) |
Other diuretics | 82 (12%) |
ACE inhibitor | 42 (6%) |
Angiotensin II blocker | 12 (2%) |
β Blocker | 30 (5%) |
Calcium antagonist | 39 (6%) |
Nitrates | 26 (4%) |
Digitalis | 25 (4%) |
Aspirin | 112 (17%) |