TABLE 1.
Characteristics of study participants at baseline
| Baseline characteristic | N = 281 |
|---|---|
| Age [years (SD)] | 74 (12) |
| Sex [female, n (%)] | 91 (32) |
| NYHA classes III–IV [n (%)] | 249 (89) |
| Prevalent or history of smoking [n (%)] | 253 (90) |
| ACEi [n (%)] | 154 (55) |
| Beta‐blockers [n (%)] | 252 (90) |
| ARBs [n (%)] | 84 (30) |
| BMI [kg/m2 (SD)] | 28 (6) |
| SBP [mmHg (SD)] | 140 (28) |
| DBP [mmHg (SD)] | 80 (16) |
| Education level | |
| Elementary school, 9 years [n (%)] | 139 (50) |
| Upper secondary school, 9–12 years [n (%)] | 76 (27) |
| College education, >12 years [n (%)] | 61 (22) |
| Diabetes [n (%)] | 102 (36) |
| AF [n (%)] | 149 (53) |
| Prior stroke [n (%)] | 30 (11) |
| Prior myocardial infarction [n (%)] | 100 (36) |
| Nt‐proBNP [pmol/L (min–max)] | 5655 (60–35 000) |
| LVEF (%) | 39 (16) |
| MoCA [points (SD)] | 25 (4) |
| Mild cognitive impairment; MoCA 18–25 [n (%)] | 124 (44) |
| Moderate cognitive impairment; MoCA 10–17 [n (%)] | 18 (6) |
| Severe cognitive impairment; MoCA below 10 [n (%)] | 0 (0) |
| SDMT (points) | 26 (11) |
| TMT A [seconds (SD)] | 62 (34) |
| AQT [seconds (SD)] | 85 (26) |
ACEi, angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitor; AF, atrial fibrillation; AQT, A Quick Test of Cognitive Speed; ARBs, angiotensin receptor blockers; BMI, body mass index; DBP, diastolic blood pressure; LVEF, left ventricular ejection fraction; MoCA, Montreal Cognitive Assessment; NT‐proBNP, N terminal pro brain natriuretic peptide; NYHA, New York Heart Association; SBP, systolic blood pressure; SDMT, Symbol Digit Modalities Test; TMT A, Trail Making Test A.