Table 1.

Patients baseline clinical and laboratorial characteristics according to BNP group and overall

Variable	Overall	BNP <5.2	5.2 ≤ BNP ≤ 17.1	BNP > 17.1	p valuea
	(mean ± SD), %
Clinical history
Age, years	44 ± 11.5	40	45	46	0.11
Female, %	81	77	79	86	0.66
Dyspnea, %	80	81	79	79	0.99
NYHA III or IVb, %	17	13	14	24	0.44
Orthopnea, %	41	40	50	35	0.48
PND, %	24	27	21	24	0.90
Beta-blocker, %	24	23	21	28	0.82
Comorbidities
Hypertension,%	78	77	76	79	0.95
Diabetes, %	35	32	43	31	0.59
MSc, %	78	81	79	72	0.72
CDd, %	3	3	0	7	0.35
PDe, %	27	35	17	28	0.28
MRf, %	1.3	0	0	4.2	0.34
AF, %	3.4	0	3.4	6.9	0.55
HF, %	20	16	14	31	0.20
Physical exam
BMI, kg/m2	53.2 ± 7.9	51.5	52.8	55.1	0.21
SP, mm Hg	141± 23	137	139	146	0.29
DP, mm Hg	87 ± 17	85	88	89	0.81
Waist, cm	138 ± 14	136	140	138	0.41
Waist/hip ratio	0.94 ± 0.09	0.94	0.95	0.94	0.82
Leg edema, %	64	58	65	65	0.56
Laboratory data
Fasting glucose, mg/dl	107 ± 35	104	112	106	0.41
Cholesterol, mg/dl	192 ± 49	195	189	191	0.91
Creatinine, g/dl	0.9 ± 0.2	0.8	0.9	0.8	0.77

PND = Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea; AF = atrial fibrillation; SP = systolic blood pressure; DP = diastolic blood pressure.

^ap values are for comparisons among 3 BNP groups.

^bStages of dyspnea according to the New York Heart Association; ^eparoxysmal nocturnal dyspnea.

^cMetabolic syndrome according to ATP III criteria.

^dSelf-reported history of acute coronary syndrome.

^eSelf-reported history of pulmonary disease (asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease).

^fModerate to severe mitral regurgitation.