Table I.
Base-line parameters according to the plasma galectin-3 levels.
| Quartiles of galectin-3 (ng/mL) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Variables | Quartile 1 (5.0–15.2) | Quartile 2 (15.2–20.0) | Quartile 3 (20.0–25.9) | Quartile 4 (25.9–66.6) | P-value |
| n | 148 | 148 | 148 | 148 | |
| Age (years) | 66 ± 11 | 70 ± 11 | 72 ± 11 | 76 ± 9 | <0.001 |
| Gender (% male) | 69 | 64 | 62 | 52 | 0.023 |
| NYHA (%, II / III / IV) | 61/38/1 | 51/48/1 | 45/51/4 | 30/63/8 | <0.001 |
| BMI (kg/m2) | 27 ± 5 | 28 ± 5 | 27 ± 5 | 28 ± 7 | 0.56 |
| LVEF (%) | 30 ± 13 | 34 ± 16 | 32 ± 15 | 34 ± 13 | 0.093 |
| % patients LVEF ≥ 40% | 18 | 28 | 23 | 26 | 0.26 |
| eGFR (mL/min/1.73 m2) | 67 ± 17 | 61 ± 18 | 50 ± 16 | 37 ± 15 | <0.001 |
| Hb (g/dL) | 14.0 ± 1.9 | 13.3 ± 1.9 | 13.0 ± 2.0 | 12.5 ± 2.0 | 0.001 |
| BNP (pg/mL) (median; IQR) | 339 (173–780) | 457 (190–781) | 488 (244–1120) | 518 (229–1240) | 0.001 |
| NT-proBNP (pg/mL) (median; IQR) | 1767 (1048–3464) | 2386 (1283–4666) | 3051 (1480–6652) | 4302 (1664–11640) | <0.001 |
| Medical history (%) | |||||
| Hypertension | 39 | 41 | 45 | 49 | 0.33 |
| Myocardial infarction | 38 | 39 | 42 | 43 | 0.74 |
| Diabetes | 19 | 29 | 37 | 35 | 0.004 |
| Atrial fibrillation | 35 | 41 | 49 | 57 | 0.001 |
| COPD | 22 | 28 | 26 | 36 | 0.048 |
| CVA | 7 | 12 | 9 | 13 | 0.35 |
| Medication (%) | |||||
| ACE inhibitors | 79 | 72 | 78 | 61 | 0.002 |
| ARB | 9 | 16 | 12 | 7 | 0.10 |
| Beta-blocker | 72 | 69 | 66 | 62 | 0.28 |
| Diuretics | 95 | 95 | 97 | 97 | 0.55 |
NYHA = New York Heart Association; Bmi = Body Mass Index; LVEF = Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction; eGFR = estimated glomerular filtration rate; Hb = hemoglobin; BNP = brain natriuretic peptide; NT-proBNP = NT-pro-brain natriuretic peptide; COPD = chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; CVA = cerebrovascular attack; ACE = angiotensin-converting enzyme; ARB = angiotensin receptor blockers.