Table 1.

Baseline characteristics of study population according to fT3 concentration

Characteristics	Group A Low fT3 < 3.10 pmol/L (n = 9)	Group B Normal fT3 ≥ 3.10 pmol/L (n = 50)	p-value
Age, years	65.0 (58.0–78.5)	64.5 (58.5–71.5)	0.4047
Male sex, n (%)	7 (77.8%)	41 (82.0%)	0.6697
Body mass index (kg/m2)	20.8 (19.4–26.4)	30.1 (26.9–33.3)	0.0008
Main etiology of heart failure
Ischemic	4 (44.4%)	25 (50.0%)	0.7117
Valvular	2 (22.2%)	6 (12.0%)
Idiopathic/Other	3 (33.3%)	19 (38.0%)
Medical history, n (%)
Hypertension	8 (88.9%)	42 (84.0%)	1.0000
Dyslipidemia	7 (77.8%)	44 (88.0%)	0.5946
Type 2 diabetes mellitus	3 (33.3%)	23 (46.0%)	0.7176
Atrial fibrillation	4 (44.4%)	28 (56.0%)	0.7187
Smoking	3 (33.3%)	18 (36.0%)	1.0000
Medications prior to admission, n (%)
Beta blockers	8 (88.9%)	46 (92.0%)	0.5768
ACEI	4 (44.4%)	38 (76.0%)	0.1033
ARB	0 (0.0%)	3 (6.0%)	1.0000
MRA	6 (66.7%)	34 (68.0%)	1.0000
Diuretics	7 (77.8%)	45 (90.0%)	0.2880
Ivabradine	3 (33.3%)	4 (8.0%)	0.0644
Digoxin	9 (18.0%)	2 (22.2%)	0.6697
Electrotherapy prior to admission, n (%)
ICD	3 (33.3%)	14 (28.0%)	0.7080
CRT	2 (22.2%)	5 (10.0%)	0.2880
Pacemaker	1 (11.1%)	3 (6.0%)	0.4940
iv medication during hospitalization
Iv diuretics	8 (88.9%)	31 (72.1%)	0.4203
Iv inotropic drugs	6 (66.7%)	4 (8.0%)	0.0003
Initial clinical findings
Rales, n (%)	7 (77.8%)	22 (44.0%)	0.0797
Peripheral edema, n (%)	8 (88.9%)	23 (46.0%)	0.0274
Heart rate (beats/min)	88.0 (72.5–115.0)	80.0 (70.0–101.0)	0.4400
Systolic blood pressure (mmHg)	108.7 (±14.9)	129.0 (±22.8)	0.0128
Diastolic blood pressure (mmHg)	73.0 (±11.17)	82.3 (±15.2)	0.0876
NYHA class
III, n (%)	3 (33.3%)	34 (68.0%)	0.0661
IV, n (%)	6 (66.7%)	16 (32.0%)