Table 2.
Clinical and demographic characteristics
| Characteristic | On β blockers (n=771) | β Blockers started (n=865) | No β blockers (n=1455) | p Value |
| Age ≥70 years | 24 | 25 | 43 | 0.001 |
| NYHA class III–IV | 26 | 29 | 42 | 0.001 |
| Pulmonary rales | 10 | 20 | 26 | 0.001 |
| Peripheral oedema | 12 | 13 | 21 | 0.001 |
| Atrial fibrillation | 14 | 17 | 21 | 0.001 |
| EF not available | 5 | 3 | 6 | 0.008 |
| EF <30% | 30 | 30 | 35 | 0.017 |
| Aetiology | ||||
| Ischaemic | 38 | 39 | 42 | |
| Dilated | 38 | 34 | 28 | 0.001 |
| Hypertensive | 13 | 16 | 14 | |
| Other | 11 | 11 | 16 |
Values are percentages.
EF, ejection fraction; NYHA, New York Heart Association.