Table 1 Baseline characteristics in the levosimendan‐treated and placebo‐treated groups.
| Levosimendan (n = 17) | Placebo (n = 8) | p Value* | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age (years) | 67 (6) | 70 (8) | NS |
| Male:female | 16:1 | 7:1 | NS |
| NYHA class III/IV | |||
| 7/10 | 4/4 | NS | |
| BSA (m2) | 1.95 (0.18) | 1.97 (0.11) | NS |
| Cardiomyopathy | NS | ||
| Ischaemic/dilated | 14/3 | 7/1 | |
| Heart rate (beats/min) | 74 (9) | 73 (8) | NS |
| Systolic blood pressure (mm Hg) | 117 (14) | 110 (15) | NS |
| Diastolic blood pressure (mm Hg) | 73 (8) | 71 (8) | NS |
| LV end‐diastolic diameter index (mm/m2) | 36 (4) | 37 (4) | NS |
| LV end‐systolic diameter index (mm/m2) | 31 (5) | 31 (4) | NS |
| LV ejection fraction (%) | 22 (4) | 23 (4) | NS |
| LV end‐diastolic volume index (ml/m2) | 133 (25) | 144 (29) | NS |
| LV end‐systolic volume index (ml/m2) | 95 (28) | 98 (25) | NS |
| LV end‐systolic wall stress (g/cm2) | 859 (129) | 807 (107) | NS |
| Serum creatinine (μmol/l) | 115 (27) | 124 (18) | NS |
| Drugs | NS | ||
| ACE inhibitors | 17 | 8 | |
| Diuretics | 17 | 8 | |
| β‐blockers | 14 | 6 | |
| Aldosterone antagonists | 9 | 4 | |
| Amiodarone | 7 | 3 |
Values are mean (SD).
ACE, angiotensin‐converting enzyme; BSA, body surface area; LV, left ventricular; NS, not significant; NYHA, New York Heart Association.
*Student's t test, Mann–Whitney U test or χ2 test, as appropriate.