Table 1.
Baseline characteristics of the study participants, according to treatment group
| Characteristic | Group 1 (125 mg) (N = 14) | Group 2 (250 mg) (N = 13) | Group 3 (500 mg) (N = 13) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age (years) | 77 ± 17 | 80 ± 8.1 | 73 ± 12 |
| Sex, male | 6 (43) | 2 (15) | 7 (54) |
| NYHA class IV | 9 (64) | 11 (84) | 9 (69) |
| Preexisting condition(s) | |||
| Coronary artery disease | 5 (35) | 3 (23) | 5 (38) |
| Hypertension | 10 (71) | 12 (92) | 9 (69) |
| Atrial fibrillation | 8 (57) | 4 (31) | 6 (46) |
| Diabetes | 5 (35) | 3 (23) | 5 (38) |
| HFpEF | 6 (43) | 5 (38) | 6 (46) |
| Peripheral edema (4 +/4 +) | 6 (43) | 7 (53) | 6 (60) |
| Medication | |||
| ACE inhibitor or ARB | 6 (43) | 6 (46) | 6 (46) |
| Beta-blocker | 6 (43) | 6 (46) | 6 (46) |
| Aldosterone antagonist | 2 (14) | 1 (7) | 2 (15) |
| Digitalis | 4 (28) | 3 (23) | 4 (31) |
| Furosemide | 14 (100) | 13 (100) | 13 (100) |
| Clinical and laboratory evaluation(s) | |||
| Serum sodium (mEq/L) | 141.1 ± 2.8 | 138.5 ± 3.4 | 140.3 ± 3.8 |
| Creatinine (mg/dL) | 1.1 ± 0.4 | 1.2 ± 0.5 | 1.2 ± 0.4 |
| BUN (mg/dL) | 64 ± 26 | 64 ± 33 | 69 ± 27 |
| GFR–MDRD (mL/mim) | 65 ± 21 | 60 ± 36 | 58 ± 27 |
| Systolic blood pressure (mm Hg) | 128 ± 14 | 128 ± 19 | 128 ± 15 |
| Heart rate (beats/min) | 76 ± 13 | 82 ± 16 | 81 ± 12 |
| Ejection fraction (%) | 44 ± 13 | 42 ± 14 | 45 ± 10 |
Values are presented as n (%) or mean ± standard deviation
ACE angiotensin converting enzyme, ARB angiotensin receptor blockers, BUN blood urea nitrogen, GFR glomerular filtration rate, HFpEF heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, MDRD modification of diet in renal disease, NYHA New York Heart Association