Table 3.
Characteristics of subjects (mean values for continuous variables) based on quartiles of beta blocker doses
| Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | P | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carvedilol‐equivalent dose (mg) | 1.25–12 | 12.5–19 | 20–37.5 | 38–150 | |
| Number of Subjects | 186 | 187 | 210 | 197 | — |
| Age (years) | 65.0 | 62.7 | 62.0 | 58.5 | <0.001 |
| BMI (kg/m2) | 28.6 | 28.2 | 29.5 | 30.5 | 0.001 |
| Female (%) | 16.7 | 20.9 | 17.1 | 19.8 | 0.666 |
| LVEF (%) | 27.0 | 27.0 | 27.7 | 26.8 | 0.479 |
| Creatinine (mg/dL) | 1.21 | 1.18 | 1.20 | 1.20 | 0.906 |
| eGFR (mL/min) | 66.4 | 69.1 | 68.5 | 71.4 | 0.157 |
| NYHA II (%) | 87.6 | 82.4 | 79.0 | 79.7 | 0.113 |
| Ischaemic aetiology (%) | 78.5 | 61.0 | 64.3 | 55.8 | <0.0001 |
| Diabetes (%) | 39.2 | 31.0 | 37.1 | 35.5 | 0.392 |
| COPD (%) | 13.4 | 7.0 | 12.9 | 5.6 | 0.013 |
| HR (b.p.m.) (single determination) | 69.0 | 67.8 | 67.6 | 65.8 | 0.109 |
| Mean HR (bpm) (minimum of five determinations) | 68.9 | 67.8 | 67.8 | 66.2 | 0.170 |
| SBP (mmHg) | 123.7 | 122.1 | 125.3 | 122.0 | 0.260 |
| DBP (mmHg) | 72.8 | 72.7 | 74.2 | 72.9 | 0.491 |
| Weight (kg) | 85.5 | 84.0 | 88.9 | 92.4 | <0.001 |
| Plasma norepinephrine (pg/mL) | 637.3 | 695.1 | 680.9 | 681.9 | 0.492 |
| BNP (ng/L) | 335.5 | 291.1 | 243.9 | 209.8 | 0.014 |
| (Baseline treatment) | |||||
| ACE‐I/ARB (%) | 91.9 | 94.1 | 96.7 | 93.4 | 0.237 |
| ICD (baseline) (%) | 11.3 | 13.9 | 17.6 | 29.4 | <0.0001 |
| Loop diuretic (furosemide‐equivalent) dose (mg) | 26.3 | 24.7 | 26.7 | 28.8 | 0.853 |
| Aldosterone antagonist (%) | 32.3 | 33.2 | 35.7 | 50.8 | 0.0003 |
| H/M | 1.44 | 1.46 | 1.46 | 1.43 | 0.219 |
| LBBB (%) | 19.4 | 21.4 | 21.0 | 22.8 | 0.855 |
ACE‐I, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor; ARB, angiotensin receptor blocker; BMI, body mass index; BNP, b‐type natriuretic peptide; COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; DBP, diastolic blood pressure; eGFR, estimated glomerular filtration rate; H/M, heart to mediastinum ratio; HR, heart rate; ICD, implantable cardioverter‐defibrillator; LBBB, left bundle branch block; LVEF, left ventricular ejection fraction; NYHA, New York Heart Association; Q, quartile; SBP, systolic blood pressure.