Table 2.

 Comparison of clinical characteristics and post-discharge treatments of patients with LVEF <50% and ⩾50%

Variable	LVEF		p Value
	<50% (n = 754)	⩾50% (n = 498)
Age (years)	67.4 (12.2)	72.3 (10.2)	<0.0001
Sex
Men	522 (69.2%)	245 (49.2%)	<0.0001
Women	232 (30.8%)	253 (50.8%)
Time in hospital (days)	15.0 (12.0)	13.6 (12.3)	0.047
Risk factors
Arterial hypertension	389 (51.6%)	304 (61.0%)	<0.001
Hyperlipaemia	256 (34.0%)	163 (32.7%)	0.66
Diabetes mellitus	210 (27.9%)	125 (25.1%)	0.250
Smoking	269 (35.7%)	121 (24.3%)	<0.0001
Underlying cardiopathy			<0.0001
Ischaemic cardiopathy	409 (54.2%)	207 (41.6%)
Valve disease	95 (12.6%)	165 (33.1%)
Dilated cardiomyopathy	116 (15.4%)	0
Other	134 (17.8%)	126 (25.3%)
Clinical signs
NYHA class IV	332 (44.0%)	190 (38.2%)	0.017
Jugular vein congestion	362 (48.0%)	200 (40.2%)	0.030
Third heart sound	149 (19.8%)	16 (3.2%)	<0.0001
Radiographic signs
Cardiomegaly	613 (81.3%)	381 (76.5%)	0.005
Alveolar oedema	118 (15.6%)	34 (6.8%)	<0.0001
ECG signs
Sinus rhythm	445 (59.0%)	230 (46.2%)	<0.0001
Atrial fibrillation	232 (30.8%)	192 (38.6%)	0.0049
Pathological Q wave	191 (25.3%)	69 (13.9%)	<0.0001
LBBB	159 (21.1%)	37 (7.4%)	<0.0001
Drug treatment
Digoxin	271 (36.0%)	115 (23.1%)	<0.0001
Diuretics	618 (82.0%)	330 (66.3)	<0.0001
ACE inhibitors	534 (70.8)	251 (50.4%)	<0.0001
ARB	40 (5.3%)	25 (5.0%)	0.842
Spironolactone	121 (16.0%)	41 (8.2%)	0.0007
Nitrates	361 (47.9%)	184 (36.9%)	0.0004
Hydralazine	43 (5.7%)	16 (3.2%)	0.056
Vasodilators	50 (6.6%)	29 (5.8%)	0.624
Calcium antagonists	82 (10.9%)	155 (31.1%)	<0.0001
β Blockers	233 (30.9%)	118 (23.7%)	0.011
Amiodarone	130 (17.3%)	69 (13.9%)	0.131
Antiplatelet agents	452 (60%)	258 (51.8%)	0.007
Anticoagulants	195 (25.9%)	141 (28.3%)	0.441

Data are mean (SD) or number (%).