Clinical characteristics of the study groups
| Variables | Study population (n=60) |
| Gender, male (%) | 51 (85) |
| Age (y) | 46±14 |
| BMI (kg/m2) | 26±5 |
| NYHA class, n (%) | |
| Class I | 16 (27) |
| Class II | 27 (45) |
| Class III | 12 (20) |
| Class IV | 4 (7) |
| LVEF (%) | 34±14 |
| LVEDD (mm) | 64±14 |
| NT-pro-BNP (pg/mL) | 1420 (331–2705) |
| Comorbidities, n (%) | |
| Hypertension | 20 (33) |
| Diabetes mellitus | 4 (6) |
| Hypercholesterolemia | 6 (9) |
| Medication, n (%) | |
| ACE-I | 53 (83) |
| ARB | 6 (9) |
| B-blockers | 52 (81) |
| Aldosterone antagonists | 46 (72) |
| Diuretics | 32 (50) |
Data shown as mean±SD, median (with lower and upper quartiles) or number (with percentages) where appropriate.
ACE-I, ACE inhibitor; ARB, angiotensin receptor blocker; BMI, body mass index; LVEDD, left ventricular end-diastolic diameter; LVEF, left ventricular ejection fraction; NT-pro-BNP, N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide; NYHA, New York Heart Association.