| Diuretic only n = 50 | Diuretic + Irbesartan n = 56 | Diuretic + Ramipril n = 45 | p Value | |
| Patients’ characteristics | ||||
| Mean age (SD) | 73 (8.4) | 75 (8.5) | 74 (6.1) | NS |
| Female/male (%) | 29(58)/21(42) | 37(66)/19(34) | 27(60)/18(40) | NS |
| Body mass index (SD) (kg/m2) | 26.8 (4.2) | 27.2 (4.1) | 26.8 (3.9) | NS |
| Medical history | ||||
| Hypertension (%) | 38 (76) | 40 (71) | 33 (73) | NS |
| Angina/Myocardial infarction (%) | 9 (18) | 6 (11) | 8 (18) | NS |
| Atrial fibrillation (%) | 5 (10) | 12 (21) | 7 (16) | NS |
| Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (%) | 3 (6) | 6 (11) | 4 (9) | NS |
| Diabetes mellitus (%) | 10 (20) | 10 (18) | 10 (22) | NS |
| Hyperlipidaemia (%) | 4 (8) | 7 (13) | 3 (7) | NS |
| Smoker (%) | 5 (10) | 7 (13) | 4 (9) | NS |
| Ex-smoker (%) | 19 (38) | 13 (23) | 16 (36) | NS |
| Aetiology of heart failure | ||||
| Ischaemic heart failure (%) | 6 (12) | 4 (7) | 7 (16) | NS |
| Hypertension (%) | 40 (80) | 47 (84) | 37 (82) | NS |
| Idiopathic | 4 (8) | 5 (9) | 1 (2) | NS |
| Signs and symptoms of CHF | ||||
| NYHA class | ||||
| II | 36 (72.0) | 38 (67.9) | 30 (66.7) | NS |
| III | 14 (28.0) | 17 (30.4) | 15 (33.3) | NS |
| IV | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| SBP (mean (SD)) | 145 (23) | 145 (19) | 143 (22) | NS |
| DBP (mean (SD)) | 80 (14) | 82 (10) | 79 (12) | NS |
| Pulse | 76 (14) | 77 (9) | 79 (13) | NS |
| JVP ⩾6 cm (%) | 4 (8.0) | 0 | 1 (2.2) | NS |
| Oedema (%) | 14 (28.0) | 9 (16.1) | 7 (15.9) | NS |
| Third heart sound (%) | 3 (6.0) | 1 (1.8) | 4 (8.9) | NS |
| Chest x ray (on admission) | ||||
| Upper lobe vein prominent (%) | 41 (83.7) | 48 (88.9) | 38 (88.4) | NS |
| Kerley lines (%) | 9 (18.4) | 11 (20.4) | 5 (11.6) | NS |
| Interstitial oedema (%) | 21 (42.9) | 16 (29.6) | 12 (27.9) | NS |
| Medical treatment | ||||
| Frusemide (%) | 34 (68.0) | 45 (80.4) | 36 (80.0) | NS |
| mean dosage (SD) (mg) | 44.0 (19) | 33.3 (14) | 33.3 (15) | NS |
| Hydrochlorothiazide (%) | 3 (6.0) | 6 (10.7) | 4 (8.9) | NS |
| mean dosage (SD) (mg) | 25 (0) | 29 (10) | 38 (14) | NS |
| Indapamide (%) | 3 (6.0) | 3 (5.4) | 2 (4.4) | NS |
| mean dosage (SD) (mg) | 1.8 (0.6) | 2.5 (0) | 2.0 (0.7) | NS |
| Dyazide (%) | 6 (12.0) | 1 (1.8) | 1 (2.2) | NS |
| α-methyldopa (%) | 9 (18.8) | 7 (13.0) | 10 (23.3) | NS |
| mean dosage (SD) (mg) | 151 (348) | 93 (258) | 157 (327) | NS |
D, diuretic; DBP, diastolic blood pressure; NS, not significant; SD, standard deviation; SBP, systolic blood pressure.