Table 1.
Baseline characteristics of patients with heart failure (HF) (n=401)
| Characteristics | n | Per cent |
|---|---|---|
| Sex (female) | 206 | 51 |
| Median age, years (IQR) | 55 | 41–67 |
| Residence in Dar es Salaam | 255 | 64 |
| Formal education | 318 | 79 |
| Unemployed | 198 | 49 |
| Location of recruitment (inpatient) | 112 | 30 |
| Median HF duration, months (IQR) | 13 | 4–28 |
| ≥6 months | 270 | 67 |
| New York Heart Association (NYHA) class | ||
| II | 81 | 20 |
| III | 192 | 48 |
| IV | 128 | 32 |
| HF cause | ||
| Cardiomyopathies | 128 | 35 |
| Cardiomyopathies HF | 31 | 9 |
| Hypertensive HF | 162 | 44 |
| Rheumatic heart disease | 44 | 12 |
| Previous cardiovascular admission | 224 | 52 |
| Loss of appetite | 84 | 21 |
| Haematemesis | 9 | 2 |
| Peptic ulcer disease | 5 | 1 |
| Haematuria | 10 | 10 |
| Ever smoked | 53 | 13 |
| Ever took alcohol | 134 | 33 |
| Comorbidities | ||
| Diabetes | 50 | 12 |
| Atrial fibrillation | 67 | 17 |
| Stroke | 15 | 4 |
| Tuberculosis | 11 | 3 |
| Asthma or chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD) | 13 | 3 |
| HIV | 8 | 2 |
| Thyroid disease | 3 | 1 |
| Deep venous thrombosis | 4 | 1 |
| Pulmonary hypertension (N=362) | 73 | 19 |
| Chronic liver disease | 8 | 2 |
| Malignancy | 8 | 2 |
| Pharmacological treatments | ||
| ACE blocker or angiotensin receptor blocker | 393 | 92 |
| β blockers | 177 | 41 |
| Calcium channel blockers | 79 | 19 |
| Loop diuretics | 350 | 82 |
| Aldosterone antagonist | 308 | 72 |
| Digoxin | 165 | 39 |
| Nitrates | 274 | 65 |
| Hydralazine | 19 | 4 |
| Statins | 33 | 8 |
| Aspirin | 109 | 26 |
| Clopidogrel | 21 | 5 |
| Highly reactive antiretroviral therapy (HAART) | 9 | 2.2 |
| Warfarin | 11 | 3 |
| Clinical–physical examination | ||
| Body mass index (kg/m2) | 25.5 | 5 |
| Radial pulse (bpm) | 88.7 | 18 |
| Blood pressure (mm Hg) | ||
| Systolic blood pressure | 132 | 28 |
| Diastolic blood pressure | 84 | 16 |
| Mean arterial pressure | 100 | 19 |
| Laboratory/echocardiography | ||
| Haemoglobin (g/dL) | 12 | 2 |
| Men | 12 | 2 |
| Women | 12 | 2 |
| Mean corpuscular volume (fL) | 80 | 10 |
| Men | 80 | 11 |
| Women | 80 | 8 |
| Serum Na+ (mmol/L) (N=379) | 140 | 8 |
| Serum K+ (mmol/L) (N=379) | 4 | 1 |
| LVEF (%)(N=362) | 41 | 12 |
| LVEF <45% (N=362) | 249 | 68 |
Continuous variables are presented as mean±SD and categorical variables as numbers (n) and per cent (%) if not otherwise stated.