Table 1.
Baseline characteristics of the study population
| Continuous infusion (n = 43) | Bolus (n = 39) | |
|---|---|---|
| Age (years) |
80 ± 4 |
79 ± 5 |
| Sex |
|
|
| Female |
24 |
18 |
| Male |
19 |
21 |
| Baseline weight (kg) |
72 ± 7 |
69.7 ± 10 |
| Blood pressure (mmHg) |
142/87 |
145/86 |
| Heart rate (beats/minute) |
102 ± 12 |
98 ± 16 |
| Cardiac disease |
|
|
| Coronary artery disease |
24 |
21 |
| Idiopathic cardiomyopathy |
7 |
7 |
| Hypertrophic cardiomiopathy |
4 |
6 |
| Valvular disease |
8 |
5 |
| Baseline creatinine (mg/dl) |
1.62 ± 0.5 |
1.52 ± 0.4 |
| BUN |
100.60 ± 60 |
69.2 ± 31 |
| eGFR (mL/min/1.73 m2)) |
43.2 ± 7.6 |
45.7 ± 8.7 |
| Serum sodium (mEq/L) |
137.2 ± 5 |
138 ± 5 |
| Serum potassium (mEq/L) |
4.19 ± 0.4 |
4.26 ± 0.5 |
| Left ventricular ejection fraction (%) |
34.3 ± 10 |
35.8 ± 8 |
| LV internal diastolic diameter (mm) |
68 ± 8 |
66 ± 9 |
| LV internal systolic diameter (mm) |
48 ± 10 |
45 ± 8 |
| Estimated Pulmonary Artery (PA) systolic pressure (mmHg) |
50 ± 6 |
48 ± 5 |
| Signs of congestion |
|
|
| Elevated jugular venous pressure |
16 |
18 |
| Additive heart sound |
11 |
13 |
| Peripheral edema |
33 |
30 |
| Pulmonary rales |
38 |
35 |
| Coronary risk factors (%) |
|
|
| Diabetes mellitus |
55.2 |
61.1 |
| Hypertension |
89.4 |
87.9 |
| Dyslipidemia |
72.4 |
75 |
| Previous Coronary artery disease (CAD) |
46.2 |
49.4 |
| Atrial fibrillation (%) |
36.6 |
41.3 |
| Baseline BNP (pg/mL) |
1204 ± 693 |
1099 ± 571 |
| Previous therapy |
|
|
| ACE-inhibitors |
38 |
33 |
| β-Blockers |
22 |
21 |
| Nitrates |
25 |
26 |
| Diuretics |
39 |
35 |
| Angiotensin receptor blockers |
5 |
7 |
| Digoxin |
13 |
11 |
| Aldosterone antagonist | 15 | 12 |
Results are presented as mean ± SD or number, unless stated otherwise. BUN, blood urea nitrogen; eGFR, estimated glomerular filtration rate; LV, Left Ventricular; BNP, B-type natriuretic peptide.