Table 1.
Clinical and demographic characteristics of patients included in the study (N = 40)
| Characteristic | Number (%) or Mean ± SD |
|---|---|
| Age (years) | 77.5 ± 7.1 |
| EuroSCORE II (%) | 8.8 ± 2.1 |
| Female, n (%) | 14 (35) |
| Heart rate (BPM) | 68 ± 13 |
| Systolic blood pressure (mmHg) | 110 ± 19 |
| Diastolic blood pressure (mmHg) | 67 ± 8 |
| Creatinine levels (mg/dL) | 1.6 ± 0.5 |
| NT‐proBNP levels (ng/L) | 5816.1 ± 991.3 |
| Walking distance (6‐MWT) (meters) | 91 ± 55 |
| Functional NYHA class, n (%) | |
| a. NYHA III | 28 (70) |
| b. NYHA IV | 12 (30) |
| Previous myocardial infarction, n (%) | 7 (17.5) |
| Previous cardiac surgery, n (%) | 15 (37.5) |
| Hypertension, n (%) | 35 (87.5) |
| Smoking, n (%) | 10 (25) |
| Diabetes mellitus, n (%) | 7 (17.5) |
| COPD, n (%) | 17 (42.5) |
| Pacemaker, n (%) | 10 (25) |
| Symptoms, n (%) | |
| a. Fatigue | 37 (92.5) |
| b. Palpitations | 5 (12.5) |
| c. Abdominal bloating | 27 (67.5) |
| d. Cachexia | 7 (17.5) |
| e. Edema | 40 (100) |
| f. Ascites | 25 (62.5) |
Abbreviations: BPM, beats per minute; COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; 6‐MWT, six minutes walking test; NYHA, New York Heart Association; NT‐proBNP, N terminal pro brain natriuretic peptide.