Baseline patient characteristics.
| Left ventricular systolic dysfunction patients (n = 114)a | Non-left ventricular systolic dysfunction patients (n = 183) | P values | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mean age (years) | 73.5 | 74.0 | nsb |
| Age range | 34–94 | 43–94 | ns |
| Sex, % male (n) | 47 (54) | 30 (55) | <0.005 |
| Diuretics, % (n) | 70 (80) | 63 (115) | ns |
| ACE inhibitor or angiotensin II receptor blocker, % (n) | 46 (53) | 33 (60) | <0.05 |
| β-blocker, % (n) | 18 (20) | 21 (39) | ns |
| Hypertension, % (n) | 27 (31) | 39 (71) | <0.05 |
| Ischaemic heart disease, % (n) | 33 (38) | 27 (49) | ns |
| Previous myocardial infarction, % (n) | 24 (27) | 7 (12) | <0.0001 |
| Atrial fibrillation, % (n) | 25 (29) | 15 (27) | <0.05 |
| Diabetes, % (n) | 8 (9) | 10 (18) | ns |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, % (n) | 19 (22) | 26 (47) | ns |