Table 1. Baseline demographic characteristics and maximal cardiopulmonary exercise testing indices of patients with chronic heart failure of different severity according to peak VO₂.

Demographic characteristics	Group 1: ≤ 18.3 ml/kg/min	Group 2: > 18.3 ml/kg/min
Number of patients (N)	23	21
Gender (males/females)	17/6	18/3
Age (years)^a	57 ± 11	54 ± 9
NYHA stage (class II/III)	17/6	17/4
Ejection fraction (%)	30 (25-40)	35 (28-38)
Medication
Diuretics [n (%)]	19 (83%)	10 (48%)*
ACE inhibitors [n (%)]	11 (48%)	11 (52%)
beta-blockers [n (%)]	23 (100%)	20 (95%)
Aldosterone antagonists [n (%)]	17 (74%)	15 (71%)
Baseline cardiopulmonary exercise testing indices
Peak VO₂ (ml/kg/min)^a	15.1 ± 2.8	22.1 ± 2.3*
Predicted peak VO₂ (%)^a	55 ± 14	74 ± 11*
Peak WR (watts)^a	82 ± 33	122 ± 33*

ACE, angiotensin-converting-enzyme; NYHA, New York Heart Association; VO₂, oxygen uptake; WR, work rate.

Values are expressed as ^a mean ± SD, ^b median (25^th-75^th percentiles).

Difference between the 2 severity groups for demographic characteristics and CPET parameters (* p < 0.05).

Table 1. Baseline demographic characteristics and maximal cardiopulmonary exercise testing indices of patients with chronic heart failure of different severity according to peak VO2.