Table 1.
Sociodemographic and medical characteristics of the study subjects
| Variable | HF patients | Non-HF controls | p |
| Alcohol consumption | |||
| No. drinks per month, M ± SEM (range) | 5.8 ± 3.0 (0-56) | 5.4 ± 2.7 (0-45) | .93 |
| 0 | 55.0% | 41.2% | |
| 1-5 | 25.0% | 41.2% | |
| 6-15 | 10.0% | 5.9% | |
| 15-56 | 10.0% | 11.8% | |
| Positive history of drinking | 33% | 16% | |
| Age, years, M ± SEM (range) | 61.8 ±3.4 (34-81) | 49.4 ± 1.6(37-62) | .003 |
| Body mass index, kg/m2, M± SEM (range) | 31.1 ± 1.6(23.7-41.5) | 29.6 ± 1.0(23.8-51.2) | .43 |
| Mean arterial blood pressure, mm Hg, M ± SEM (range) | 77.9 ±2.1 (73.5-82.3) | 93.9 ± 2.8 (88.0-99.8) | <.001 |
| Cigarettes per day, M ± SEM (range) | 3.2 ± 2.9 (0-60) | 1.9 ± 1.3(0-20) | .70 |
| Current smokers | 5% | 16% | |
| Coronary artery disease | 31.6% | 0% | |
| Systolic dysfunction | 90.5% | 0% | |
| Diastolic dysfunction | 57.1% | 0% | |
| HF severity | |||
| 6-minute walk test, meters M ± SEM (range) | 364.7 ±20.7 (190-511) | 518.8 ± 19.4(375-724) | <.001 |
| LVEF, M± SEM (range) | 29.1% ± 1.75% (16%-45%) | — | |
| NYHA classifications II/III | 81%/19% | 0%/0% | |
| Medications | |||
| ACE inhibitors | 71% | 0% | |
| Beta blockers | 95% | 0% | |
| Calcium channel blockers | 5% | 0% | |
| Statin | 57% | 0% | |
| Aspirin | 52% | 5% | |
| Diuretics | 91% | 0% | |
| Anti-arrhythmics | 9.5% | 0% | |
| Digoxin | 62% | 0% | |
Notes: Data are presented as mean ± standard error of means (range) or percentage value. HF = heart failure; LVEF = left ventricular ejection fraction; NYHA = New York Heart Association; ACE = angiotensin-converting enzyme.