Table 1.
Baseline Characteristics of Study Participants: Stratified by Obesity Status
| Characteristics | Nonobese (N=506) | Obese (N=367) | P Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Demographics | |||
| Age, y | 66 (57–75) | 58 (49–66) | <0.001 |
| Black race | 163 (30.9) | 161 (43.9) | <0.001 |
| Men | 381 (72.3) | 227 (61.9) | 0.001 |
| Medical history | |||
| Alcohol abuse | 69 (13.1) | 33 (9.0) | 0.69 |
| Atrial fibrillation | 82 (15.8) | 63 (17.4) | 0.60 |
| Cancer | 34 (6.5) | 10 (2.7) | 0.01 |
| CKD | 190 (36.1) | 140 (38.2) | 0.57 |
| COPD | 107 (20.3) | 86 (23.4) | 0.28 |
| Depression treated with medication | 79 (15) | 62 (16.9) | 0.46 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 211 (40.0) | 199 (54.2) | <0.001 |
| Duration of HF, mo | 11.0 (1.0–60.0) | 21.5 (1.0–81.5) | 0.07 |
| Dyslipidemia | 302 (57.4) | 222 (60.5) | 0.37 |
| History of IHD | 295 (56.1) | 152 (41.4) | <0.001 |
| History of smoking | 188 (35.7) | 116 (31.6) | 0.22 |
| Hypertension | 400 (76.1) | 306 (83.4) | 0.01 |
| ICD or pacemaker | 238 (45.3) | 157 (42.8) | 0.49 |
| Peripheral arterial disease | 62 (11.8) | 32 (8.7) | 0.15 |
| Prior MI | 174 (33.1) | 77 (21) | <0.001 |
| Sleep apnea | 54 (10.3) | 147 (40.1) | <0.001 |
| Stroke | 57 (10.8) | 38 (10.4) | 0.91 |
| Ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation | 99 (18.8) | 61 (16.7) | 0.42 |
| Clinical assessment | |||
| 6‐min Walk test distance, m | 300.0 (199.0–375.0) | 281.9 (165.0–365.7) | 0.03 |
| Ascites | 30 (5.7) | 16 (4.4) | 0.50 |
| BMI, kg/m2 | 25.2 (22.8–27.5) | 35.1 (32.2–39.7) | <0.001 |
| DBP, mm Hg | 68 (60–78) | 72 (63–80) | <0.001 |
| Heart rate, beats/min | 75 (66–85) | 78 (68–88) | 0.01 |
| JVD | 144 (28.9) | 99 (29.2) | 0.79 |
| LVEF, % | 23.0 (20.0–30.0) | 24.0 (20.0–30.0) | 0.63 |
| NYHA class | 0.006 | ||
| I | 39 (7.4) | 39 (7.4) | |
| II | 279 (53.2) | 279 (53.2) | |
| III | 193 (36.8) | 193 (36.8) | |
| IV | 7 (1.3) | 7 (1.3) | |
| Orthopnea | 0.27 | ||
| None | 158 (30.2) | 158 (30.2) | |
| Mild | 156 (29.8) | 156 (29.8) | |
| Moderate | 133 (25.4) | 133 (25.4) | |
| Severe | 52 (9.9) | 52 (9.9) | |
| Percent oxygen saturation (SpO2) | 98 (96–99) | 97 (95–98) | 0.003 |
| Peripheral edema | 199 (51.8) | 185 (48.2) | 0.47 |
| Rales | 63 (12.5) | 37 (10.1) | 0.06 |
| S3 gallop | 51 (9.7) | 30 (8.2) | 0.63 |
| SBP, mm Hg | 112 (100–126) | 116 (103–130) | 0.02 |
| Medications at baseline | |||
| ACE inhibitor | 333 (63.6) | 232 (63.2) | 0.94 |
| ARBs | 93 (17.8) | 56 (15.3) | 0.36 |
| β‐Blocker | 499 (95.2) | 346 (94.3) | 0.47 |
| CCB | 29 (5.5) | 39 (10.6) | 0.01 |
| GDMT score | 6 (4–8) | 7 (4–9) | <0.001 |
| Loop diuretic | 491 (93.7) | 358 (97.6) | 0.01 |
| Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist | 256 (48.9) | 188 (51.2) | 0.50 |
| Statin | 309 (59) | 221 (60.2) | 0.87 |
| Laboratory data | |||
| BUN, mg/dL | 22.0 (13.0–33.0) | 23.0 (16.0–35.0) | 0.04 |
| Creatinine, mg/dL | 1.29 (1.0–1.7) | 1.3 (1.1–1.7) | 0.48 |
| NT‐proBNP, pg/mL | 3412.0 (1847.0–6771.0) | 1964.0 (1145.0–3643.0) | <0.001 |
| Serum potassium, mmol/L | 4.4 (4.1–4.8) | 4.2 (3.9–4.6) | <0.001 |
| Serum sodium, mmol/L | 138.0 (136.0–141.0) | 139.0 (136.0–141.0) | 0.40 |
| Biomarker‐guided therapy arm | 266 (50.5) | 180 (49.1) | 0.68 |
Data represented as count (percentage) and median (25th–75th percentile). ACE indicates angiotensin‐converting enzyme; ARB, angiotensin receptor blocker; BMI, body mass index; BUN, blood urea nitrogen; CCB, calcium channel blocker; CKD, chronic kidney disease; COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; DBP, diastolic blood pressure; GDMT, guideline‐directed medical therapy; HF, heart failure; ICD, implantable cardioverter‐defibrillator; IHD, ischemic heart disease; JVD, jugular venous distension; LVEF, left ventricular ejection fraction; MI, myocardial infarction; NT‐proBNP, N‐terminal pro‐B‐type natriuretic peptide; NYHA, New York Heart Association; and SBP, systolic blood pressure.