Table 3.
Comparison of demographics, risk factors, and medical histories for HR ≤70 vs. >70 bpm in all patients with sinus rhythm and EF <40% (HFrEF)
| Variable | ≤70 bpm (n = 143) | >70 bpm (n = 73) | p value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age (years) | 67.5 (11.9) 68.8 (25.5; 95.3) n = 143 |
63.9 (14.2) 65.8 (19.0; 91.0) n = 73 |
0.068 |
| Male | 107 (74.8%) | 57 (78.1%) | 0.72 |
| LVEF (%) | 29.1 (6.4) 30.0 (10.0; 39.0) n = 143 |
25.6 (7.7) 25.0 (10.0; 38.0) n = 73 |
0.0016 |
| NT-pro-BNP (ng/L) | 2451 (3429) 1360 (14; 25,600) n = 118 |
3101 (4981) 1239 (81; 27,362) n = 66 |
0.94 |
| Hemoglobin (g/L) | 137.4 (16.1) 139.0 (86.0; 175.0) n = 123 |
137.9 (23.7) 140.0 (4.0; 178.0) n = 63 |
0.56 |
| Number of hospitalizations due to heart failure in the past 2 years | 0.427 (0.622) 0.000 (0.000; 3.000) n = 143 |
0.616 (0.860) 0.000 (0.000; 3.000) n = 73 |
0.18 |
| Cardiovascular risk factors | |||
| Hypertension | 69 (48.3%) | 30 (41.1%) | 0.39 |
| BMI >30 kg/m2 | 38 (26.6%) | 28 (38.4%) | 0.11 |
| Smoking | |||
| Never smoked | 62 (43.4%) | 27 (37.0%) | |
| Stopped smoking | 58 (40.6%) | 36 (49.3%) | |
| Smoking | 23 (16.1%) | 10 (13.7%) | 0.70 |
| Diabetes | 36 (25.2%) | 21 (28.8%) | 0.68 |
| Alcohol | |||
| Normal consumption | 115 (93.5%) | 56 (96.6%) | |
| Previously problematic | 5 (4.1%) | 2 (3.4%) | |
| Problematic | 3 (2.4%) | 0 (0.0%) | 0.28 |
| Heredity | 32 (22.4%) | 26 (36.6%) | 0.043 |
| Hypercholesterolemia | 59 (41.3%) | 22 (30.6%) | 0.17 |
| Stress | 33 (23.2%) | 22 (30.1%) | 0.35 |
| Cardiovascular diseases | |||
| Ischemic heart disease | 81 (56.6%) | 31 (42.5%) | 0.067 |
| Primary valvular disease | 12 (8.4%) | 5 (6.8%) | 0.92 |
| Cardiomyopathy | 46 (32.2%) | 26 (35.6%) | 0.72 |
| Myocarditis | 3 (2.1%) | 1 (1.4%) | 1.00 |
| Chronic persistent atrial fibrillation | 0 (0.0%) | 0 (0.0%) | 1.00 |
| Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation | 0 (0.0%) | 0 (0.0%) | 1.00 |
| Cardiac arrest | 10 (7.0%) | 1 (1.4%) | 0.13 |
| VES/VT | 28 (19.6%) | 14 (19.2%) | 1.00 |
| SVT | 3 (2.1%) | 4 (5.5%) | 0.35 |
| Bradycardia | 14 (9.8%) | 5 (6.8%) | 0.65 |
| Non-cardiovascular diseases | |||
| Mild/moderate pulmonary disease | 15 (10.5%) | 6 (8.2%) | 0.79 |
| Severe pulmonary disease | 0 (0.0%) | 3 (4.1%) | 0.075 |
| Asthma | 7 (4.9%) | 4 (5.5%) | 1.00 |
| GFR (cat.) | |||
| GFR <30 ml/min | 3 (2.1%) | 2 (2.8%) | |
| GFR 30–60 ml/min | 53 (37.3%) | 24 (33.8%) | |
| GFR >60 ml/min | 86 (60.6%) | 45 (63.4%) | 0.79 |
| Missing | 1 | 2 | |
| Stroke without sequelae | 10 (7.0%) | 2 (2.7%) | 0.33 |
| Stroke with sequelae | 5 (3.5%) | 1 (1.4%) | 0.68 |
| Depression | 14 (9.8%) | 10 (13.7%) | 0.52 |
| Impotence | 23 (23.5%) | 8 (16.7%) | 0.47 |
| Malignancy (active) | 3 (2.1%) | 1 (1.4%) | 1.00 |
| Malignancy (stable) | 15 (10.5%) | 8 (11.0%) | 1.00 |
| Malnutrition | 1 (0.7%) | 2 (2.7%) | 0.53 |
| Liver failure | 0 (0.0%) | 0 (0.0%) | 1.00 |
| Thyroid disease | 10 (7.0%) | 2 (2.7%) | 0.33 |
| Gout | 21 (14.7%) | 5 (6.8%) | 0.14 |
| Dementia | 0 (0.0%) | 1 (1.4%) | 0.68 |
| Other important non-cardiovascular disease | 13 (9.1%) | 8 (11.0%) | 0.83 |
| Current status | |||
| Breathlessness—Likert scale | |||
| Never | 45 (31.5%) | 10 (13.7%) | |
| Upstairs | 75 (52.4%) | 51 (69.9%) | |
| On level ground | 20 (14.0%) | 7 (9.6%) | |
| In the shower | 3 (2.1%) | 2 (2.7%) | |
| When resting | 0 (0.0%) | 3 (4.1%) | 0.015 |
| Tiredness—Likert scale | |||
| Never | 59 (41.3%) | 20 (27.4%) | |
| Upstairs | 63 (44.1%) | 43 (58.9%) | |
| On level ground | 15 (10.5%) | 5 (6.8%) | |
| In the shower | 4 (2.8%) | 1 (1.4%) | |
| When resting | 2 (1.4%) | 4 (5.5%) | 0.12 |
| Chest pain—Likert scale | |||
| Never | 128 (89.5%) | 71 (97.3%) | |
| Upstairs | 10 (7.0%) | 2 (2.7%) | |
| On level ground | 2 (1.4%) | 0 (0.0%) | |
| In the shower | 1 (0.7%) | 0 (0.0%) | |
| When resting | 2 (1.4%) | 0 (0.0%) | 0.048 |
| Sitting systolic blood pressure (mmHg) | 123.1 (15.8) 120.0 (85.0; 165.0) n = 122 |
123.4 (22.4) 122.0 (54.0; 180.0) n = 60 |
0.94 |
| Standing systolic blood pressure (mmHg) | 120.6 (17.6) 120.0 (80.0; 165.0) n = 113 |
121.8 (22.5) 122.5 (70.0; 180.0) n = 58 |
0.80 |
| LBBB | 44 (30.8%) | 19 (26.0%) | 0.57 |
| NYHA | |||
| I | 32 (22.4%) | 10 (13.7%) | |
| II | 81 (56.6%) | 44 (60.3%) | |
| III | 30 (21.0%) | 19 (26.0%) | 0.14 |