Table 1.
Baseline characteristics of the study population
| Characteristics | All enrolled patients (n = 18) |
Hydrotherapy group (n = 12) |
| Aetiology (ICM/DCM/MV replacement) | 13/4/1 | 11/2/0 |
| Age, years | 69 ± 8 | 69 ± 7 |
| Gender (male/female) | 13/5 | 8/4 |
| NYHA (class I/II/III) | 1/8/9 | 0/7/5 |
| Duration of heart failure (years) | 10 ± 7 | 11 ± 8 |
| Weight (kg) | 81 ± 15 | 83 ± 16 |
| Height (cm) | 175 ± 8 | 175 ± 9 |
| Heart rate (beats/min) | 63 ± 12 | 62 ± 12 |
| Systolic blood pressure (mmHg) | 132 ± 21 | 132 ± 19 |
| Diastolic blood pressure (mmHg) | 78 ± 8 | 79 ± 7 |
| LVEF (%), supine position | 40 ± 8 | 40 ± 7 |
| LVEF (%), standing position | 31 ± 9 | 32 ± 9 |
| BNP (ng/L) | 172 ± 155 | 169 ± 158 |
| Peak oxygen uptake (mL/min/kg) | 14.6 ± 4.5 | 14.0 ± 3.6 |
| β blockers (%) | 83 | 92 |
| ACEI/ARB (%) | 94 | 83 |
| Diuretics (%) | 78 | 75 |
| Statins (%) | 67 | 75 |
| Digitalis (%) | 11 | 8 |
Data are mean ± SD
ACEI, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor; ARB, angiotensin receptor blocker;
DCM, dilated cardiomyopathy; ICM, ischemic cardiomyopathy; LVEF, left ventricular ejection fraction; MV, mitral valve; NYHA, New York Heart Association.