TABLE 1.
Baseline characteristics of the two groups with chronic pulmonary heart disease
| Variable |
Group
|
P | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Treatment (n=33) | Untreated control (n=35) | ||
| Age, mean ± SD | 66.2±7.4 | 64.9±8.2 | NS |
| Female sex | 13 (39.4) | 12 (34.2) | NS |
| Heart rate, beats/min, mean ± SD | 110.3±9.6 | 107.7±8.2 | NS |
| NYHA class | |||
| I | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | NS |
| II | 15 (45.5) | 16 (45.7) | NS |
| III | 17 (51.5) | 18 (51.4) | NS |
| IV | 1 (3.0) | 1 (2.9) | NS |
| Arterial blood gas, mean ± SD | |||
| PaO2, kPa | 7.42±0.73 | 7.33±0.69 | NS |
| PCO2, kPa | 8.35±0.41 | 8.24±0.38 | NS |
| PAP, mmHg, mean ± SD | 52.7±8.1 | 51.7±7.9 | NS |
| Medications | |||
| Oxygen supplementation | 33 (100.0) | 35 (100.0) | NS |
| IV or oral glucocorticoids | 20 (60.6) | 22 (65.7) | NS |
| Beta2-receptor agonists | 28 (84.8) | 29 (82.9) | NS |
| IV frusemide | 21 (63.6) | 18 (51.4) | NS |
| Spirolactone | 19 (57.6) | 20 (57.1) | NS |
| Digoxin | 12 (36.4) | 10 (28.5) | NS |
Data presented as n (%) unless otherwise indicated. IV Intravenous; NS Not statistically significant; NYHA New York Heart Association; PaO2 Arterial oxygen pressure; PAP Pulmonary arterial pressure; PCO2 Arterial carbon dioxide pressure