Table 1.

Baseline characteristics (n = 230)

Characteristic	Value
Age (years)	56.6 ± 11.9
Male	149 (64.8%)
White	127 (55.2%)
Education (years)	14.1 ± 3.1
Living alone	41 (17.9%)
Insured	212 (92.2%)
Married	143 (62.2%)
Ischemic cause of HF	69 (31.3%)
Left ventricular ejection fraction (%)	39.3 ± 14.6
Systolic blood pressure (mm Hg)	112 ± 18
Diastolic blood pressure (mm Hg)	71 ± 11
Heart rate (beats/min)	72 ± 11
Creatinine (mg/dl)	1.4 ± 1.1
Sodium (mEq/L)	138 ± 3
Hemoglobin (g/dl)	13.3 ± 1.8
Brain natriuretic peptide (ng/L)	202 (73–664)
β-blocker use	219 (94.8%)
Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker use	197 (85.6%)
Defibrillator/pacemaker	145 (64.5%)

Data are expressed as mean ± SD, number (percentage), or median (interquartile range).