Table 1.
Baseline characteristics of study population
| Variable | Standard care group (N = 151) | US-guided group (N = 71) | p value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age (years) | 67.7 ± 14.6 | 64.7 ± 14.6 | 0.15 |
| Sex (male) | 86 (57%) | 46 (65%) | 0.3 |
| BMI ( kg/m2) | 32.1 ± 8 | 31.4 ± 7.6 | 0.55 |
| Race | |||
| White | 93 (60%) | 41 (58%) | 0.5 |
| Black | 45 (30%) | 26 (37%) | |
| Other ethnicity | 13 (9%) | 4 (6%) | |
| Hypertension | 149 (99%) | 67 (94%) | 0.07 |
| Diabetes | 80 (53%) | 32 (45%) | 0.27 |
| Current or former smoker | 55 (36%) | 23 (32%) | 0.85 |
| Hyperlipidemia | 99 (66%) | 55 (77%) | 0.07 |
| Baseline eGFR (mL/min per 1.73 m2) | 54.6 ± 23.5 | 50.7 ± 22.2 | 0.21 |
| Discharge eGFR (mL/min per 1.73 m2) | 46.3 ± 18.7 | 47.3 ± 20 | 0.72 |
| NT-BNP (pg/mL) | 9374 ± 10,891 | 9587 ± 13,048 | 0.93 |
| Ischemic cardiomyopathy | 37 (24.5%) | 24 (33.8%) | 0.28 |
| LVEF < 40% | 85 (56.7%) | 49 (69%) | 0.21 |
| NYHA class | |||
| III | 139 (92%) | 55 (77%) | 0.002 |
| IV | 12 (8%) | 16 (23%) | |
| Medication details | |||
| Prior beta blocker use | 43 (28.5%) | 20 (28.2%) | 0.548 |
| Prior ACEI/ARB use | 92 (60.9%) | 33 (46.5%) | 0.06 |
| Prior loop diuretics | 35 (23.2%) | 15 (21.1%) | 0.863 |
| Prior MRA | 145 (96.0%) | 60 (84.5%) | 0.004 |
| Prior digitalis | 139 (92.1%) | 54 (76.1%) | 0.001 |
| Initiated vasodilators | 145 (96%) | 58 (81.7%) | 0.001 |
| Any contrast study upon admission | 65 (91.5%) | 50 (72.5%) | 0.36 |
Values in table are presented as the mean ± standard deviation (SD) or as the number (of patients) with the percentage in parenthesis
ACEI/ARB Angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitor/angiotensin II receptor blocker, BMI body mass index, CAD coronary artery disease, eGFR estimated glomerular filtration rate, LVEF left ventricular systolic function, MRA magnetic resonance angiogram, NT-BNP N-terminal brain natriuretic peptide, NYHA New York Heart Association, US ultrasound