Table I.
Clinical features of the study cohort
| Age (yrs) | 57 (12) |
| Male gender (n [%]) | 144 (69) |
| Ethnicity | |
| African American (n [%] ) | 101 (48) |
| Caucasian (n [%] ) | 98 (47) |
| Other (n [%] ) | 12 (6) |
| Body mass index (kg/m2) | 31.2 (7.2) |
| Ischemic cardiomyopathy (n [%] ) | 91 (43) |
| New York Heart Association class | |
| I (n [%] ) | 6 (3) |
| II (n [%] ) | 119 (56) |
| III (n [%] ) | 82 (39) |
| IV (n [%] ) | 4 (2) |
| Diabetes (n [%]) | 93 (44) |
| Hypertension (n [%]) | 162 (77) |
| Hypercholesterolemia (n [%]) | 104 (49) |
| History of atrial fibrillation (n [%]) | 40 (19) |
| Current smoker (n [%]) | 36 (17) |
| Systolic blood pressure (mmHg) | 100 (18) |
| Diastolic blood pressure (mmHg) | 61 (11) |
| Heart rate (bpm) | 67 (12) |
| Glomerular filtration rate (ml/min per 1.73 m2) | 67 (28) |
| Serum sodium (mEq/dl) | 139 (3) |
| Hematocrit (%) | 40 (5) |
| NT-proBNP (pg/ml) | 1675 (2657) |
| QRS duration (ms) | 120 (31) |
| Implantable defibrillator (n [%]) | 17 (8) |
| Medications | |
| ACE inhibitor (n [%]) | 182 (86) |
| Angiotensin receptor blocker (n [%]) | 16 (8) |
| Beta adrenergic receptor blocker (n [%]) | 184 (88) |
| Aldosterone antagonist (n [%]) | 66 (31) |
| Hydralazine (n [%]) | 10 (5) |
| Long-acting nitrate (n [%]) | 41 (19) |
| Digoxin (n [%]) | 147 (70) |
| Statin (n [%]) | 98 (46) |
| Aspirin (n [%]) | 110 (52) |
Values are expressed as mean (SD) or n (%). ACE = angiotensin converting enzyme; NT-proBNP = N-terminal pro-B type natriuretic peptide.