Table 1.

Characteristics of controls and patients with CHF

	controls	CHF
Age (yrs)	50±3	54±2
Height (cm)	176±1	180±2
Body Mass (kg)	82±7	99±6
Quadriceps muscle mass (kg)	2.1±0.2	2.2±0.2
NYHA class	-	II-III
Peak Pulm. Cycle V̇O2 (l/min)	2.34±0.30	1.66±0.21*
Peak Pulm. Cycle V̇O2 (ml/kg/min)	29.1±3.2	16.8±2.0*
Maximum cycle work rate (W)	170±23	101±13*
Peak cycling leg V̇O2 (ml/min)	479±35	336±36*
Medications (fraction of users)
Digoxin	0/6	7/7
Diuretics	0/6	7/7
Long-acting nitrates	0/6	6/7
Statins	0/6	5/7
Aspirin	0/6	5/7
β-Blockers	0/6	4/7
Warfarin	0/6	3/7
ACE inhibitors	0/6	5/7
Ca2+ channel blockers	0/6	5/7

CHF, chronic heart failure; ACE, angiotensin-converting enzyme.

Anthropometric data and severity of disease (NYHA class) in controls and CHF patients. Work rate and pulmonary V̇O₂ at maximum cycle ergometric exercise, together with peak leg V̇O₂ at maximum KE exercise, are reported. The type of medications taken by CHF patients is also listed. Data are expressed as mean ± SE;

^*P<0.05.