Table 2.
Baseline characteristics across NT-proBNP quartiles.
| Variables | Q1 (N = 592) | Q2 (N = 592) | Q3 (n = 593) | Q4 (n = 592) | p-value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Demographics and medical history | |||||
| Age, years | 72.6 ± 10.5 | 75.7 ± 8.6 | 78.0 ± 9.2 | 80.4 ± 8.0 | < 0.001 |
| Gender (male), n (%) | 246 (41.5) | 229 (38.7) | 232 (39.1) | 219 (37.0) | 0.450 |
| Hypertension, n (%) | 491 (82.9) | 486 (82.1) | 491 (82.8) | 508 (85.8) | 0.326 |
| Diabetes Mellitus, n (%) | 266 (44.9) | 261 (44.1) | 244 (41.5) | 219 (37.0) | 0.025 |
| Dyslipidemia, n (%) | 312 (52.7) | 286 (48.3) | 291 (49.1) | 317 (53.5) | 0.186 |
| Smoker, n (%) | 64 (10.8) | 30 (5.1) | 44 (7.4) | 28 (4.7) | < 0.001 |
| Prior smoker, n (%) | 121 (20.4) | 141 (23.9) | 121 (20.4) | 122 (20.6) | 0.395 |
| IHD, n (%) | 134 (22.6) | 145 (24.5) | 165 (27.8) | 158 (26.7) | 0.172 |
| Valve heart disease, n (%) | 202 (34.1) | 181 (30.6) | 223 (37.6) | 259 (43.7) | < 0.001 |
| Prior history of HF, n (%) | 178 (30.1) | 194 (32.8) | 248 (41.8) | 260 (43.9) | < 0.001 |
| Prior AHF admission, n (%) | 148 (25.0) | 194 (32.8) | 209 (35.2) | 197 (33.3) | 0.001 |
| Charlson index, points | 1 (1–3) | 1 (1–3) | 2 (1–3) | 2 (1–4) | < 0.001 |
| Pleural effusion, n (%) | 207 (35.0) | 284 (48.0) | 306 (51.6) | 334 (56.4) | < 0.001 |
| Peripheral edema, n (%) | 330 (55.7) | 382 (64.5) | 401 (67.6) | 401 (67.7) | < 0.001 |
| NYHA III-IV prior to admission, % | 92 (15.5) | 81 (13.7) | 99 (16.7) | 139 (23.5) | < 0.001 |
| Vital signs | |||||
| Heart rate, bpm | 92 ± 29 | 93 ± 30 | 98 ± 30 | 94 ± 28 | 0.414 |
| SBP, mmHg | 153 ± 33 | 150 ± 31 | 145 ± 29 | 140 ± 29 | 0.004 |
| DBP, mmHg | 82 ± 20 | 79 ± 18 | 78 ± 18 | 75 ± 17 | 0.014 |
| Electrocardiogram | |||||
| Atrial fibrillation, n (%) | 271 (45.8) | 333 (56.2) | 350 (59.0) | 331 (22.9) | < 0.001 |
| BBB, n (%) | 117 (19.8) | 130 (22.0) | 147 (24.8) | 160 (27.0) | 0.018 |
| Echocardiography | |||||
| LVEF, % | 63.4 ± 7.3 | 62.2 ± 7.2 | 61.3 ± 6.8 | 60.3 ± 7.5 | 0.095 |
| LAD, mm | 43.5 ± 7.6 | 43.7 ± 7.7 | 44.1 ± 7.5 | 44.6 ± 7.4 | 0.717 |
| TAPSE, mm | 20.4 ± 3.5 | 19.7 ± 3.1 | 19.2 ± 3.2 | 18.9 ± 3.6 | < 0.001 |
| Laboratory data | |||||
| Hemoglobin, g/dL | 12.7 ± 2.09 | 12.2 ± 1.9 | 12.0 ± 1.8 | 11.5 ± 1.8 | 0.147 |
| eGFR (MDRD formula), mL/min/1.73m2 | 75.1 ± 33.9 | 66.6 ± 29.6 | 59.4 ± 23.8 | 48.2 ± 23.3 | < 0.001 |
| Serum sodium, mEq/L | 139 ± 4 | 139 ± 4 | 139 ± 4 | 138 ± 5 | < 0.001 |
| Serum potassium, mEq/L | 4.2 ± 0.5 | 4.2 ± 0.5 | 4.3 ± 0.5 | 4.4 ± 0.6 | < 0.001 |
| NT-proBNP, pg/mL* | 1014 (677–1306) | 2200 (1869–2500) | 3848 (3374–4431) | 8658 (6603–13,367) | < 0.001 |
| CA125, U/mL* | 25.8 (14–65.4) | 36.0 (19.15–84.3) | 39.4 (19.2–92.0) | 54.2 (27.0–110.2) | < 0.001 |
| Medical treatment at discharge | |||||
| Beta blockers, n (%) | 366 (61.8) | 387 (65.4) | 390 (65.7) | 396 (66.9) | 0.291 |
| ACEI or ARB, n (%) | 352 (69.2) | 302 (63.4) | 267 (57.2) | 228 (48.5) | < 0.001 |
| MRA, n (%) | 63 (21.6) | 33 (14.0) | 51 (19.0) | 55 (16.6) | 0.121 |
| Oral anticoagulation, n (%) | 282 (47.9) | 321 (54.4) | 323 (55.4) | 307 (52.4) | 0.049 |
| Outcomes | |||||
| Death, rates per 100 P-Y | 9.5 | 14.2 | 20.1 | 27.4 | < 0.001 |
| Total HF-readmissions, rates per 100 P-Y | 29.4 | 36.0 | 45.3 | 55.0 | < 0.001 |
ACEI: angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors; AHF: acute heart failure; ARB: angiotensin receptor blockers; BBB: bundle branch block; CA125: carbohydrate antigen 125; DBP: diastolic blood pressure; eGFR: estimated glomerular filtration rate; ID: iron deficiency; IHD: ischemic heart disease; LAD: left atrial diameter; MDRD: Modification of Diet in Renal Disease; MRA: mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists; NT-proBNP: amino-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide; NYHA: New York Heart Association; PASP: pulmonary artery systolic pressure; P-Y: person-years; SBP: systolic blood pressure; TAPSE: tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion; TSAT: transferrin saturation; WHO: World Heart Organization.
Values for continuous variables are expressed as mean ± standard deviation.
*Values expressed as mean (interquartile range).
NT-proBNP quartiles: Q1 = 24–1589 pg/mL; Q2 = 1590–2922 pg/mL; Q3 = 2924–5447 pg/mL; Q4 = 5450–35,000 pg/mL.