Table 1.
Demographic characteristics and maximal cardiopulmonary exercise testing indices of patients with chronic heart failure of different severity based on peak oxygen uptake
| Demographic characteristics | Group 1 | Group 2 |
| Patients, n | 25 | 24 |
| Gender, males/females | 21/4 | 20/4 |
| Age in yr1 | 57 ± 10 | 55 ± 9 |
| Height in cm1 | 174 ± 11 | 175 ± 9 |
| Weight in kg1 | 92 ± 25 | 87 ± 21 |
| NYHA stage, class II/III | 16/9 | 18/6 |
| EF, %1 | 32 ± 9 | 32 ± 8 |
| Type of CHF | ||
| Dilated cardiomyopathy, n (%) | 7 (28) | 5 (21) |
| Ischemic, n (%) | 14 (56) | 15 (63) |
| Other, i.e. valvulopathy, etc., n (%) | 4 (16) | 4 (17) |
| Medication | ||
| Diuretics, n (%) | 19 (76) | 13 (54) |
| ACE inhibitors, n (%) | 11 (44) | 13 (54) |
| ARBs, n (%) | 5 (20) | 2 (8) |
| β-Blockers, n (%) | 25 (100) | 23 (96) |
| Aldosterone antagonists, n (%) | 19 (76) | 18 (75) |
| Cardiopulmonary exercise testing parameters | ||
| Peak VO2 in mL/kg/min1 | 14.5 ± 2.5 | 21.8 ± 2.4a |
| Predicted peak VO2, %1 | 52 ± 13 | 74 ± 11a |
| VE/VCO2 slope1 | 34 ± 5 | 33 ± 4 |
| Peak WR in watts1 | 75 ± 34 | 118 ± 34a |
Group 1: Peak VO2 < 18.0 mL/kg/min, Group 2: Peak VO2 ≥ 18.0 mL/kg/min.
1
Values are expressed as mean ± SD; Difference between the 2 severity groups for demographic characteristics and cardiopulmonary exercise testing parameters (aP < 0.05). ACE: Angiotensin-converting-enzyme; ARB: Angiotensin II receptor blockers; CPET: Cardiopulmonary exercise testing; CHF: Chronic heart failure; EF: Ejection fraction; NYHA: New York Heart Association; VCO2: Carbon dioxide output; VO2: Oxygen uptake; WR: Work rate.