Table 1 Baseline characteristics of the entire cohort and by quartiles of GLS

 Age (years)

63.8 ± 15

66.3 ± 14

63.4 ± 15.8

65.7 ± 13.9

59.7 ± 16.3

0.116

 Male

87 (42.4%)

11 (21.6%)

19 (37.3%)

25 (48.1%)

32 (62.7%)

<0.001

 Sodium level

138.3 ± 3.4

138.1 ± 4.2

139 ± 3

138.7 ± 3.4

137.5 ± 2.9

0.153

 Creatinine

2.2 ± 2.4

2.6 ± 3.6

2.6 ± 2.5

1.7 ± 1.2

1.8 ± 1.5

0.163

 LVEF

40.4 ± 17.4

60.4 ± 7.5

47.8 ± 11.6

30.9 ± 10.4

22.3 ± 5.9

<0.001

 ACEI or ARBs

140 (69.7%)

25 (49%)

32 (65.3%)

39 (78%)

44 (86.3%)

<0.001

 β-Blocker

173 (86.1%)

37 (72.5%)

43 (87.8%)

47 (94%)

46 (90.2%)

0.011

 Hydralazine

55 (27.5%

14 (27.5%)

21 (43.8%)

9 (18%)

11 (21.6%)

0.023

 Ca channel Blockers

45 (22.6%)

17 (33.3%)

19 (39.6%)

6 (12%)

3 (6%)

<0.001

 Loop diuretics

164 (81.6%)

41 (80.4%)

37 (75.5%)

41 (82%)

45 (88.2%)

0.43

 Aldosterone-antagonists

19 (9.7%)

1 (2%)

3 (6.3%)

5 (10.4%)

10 (19.6%)

0.021

 Class I

55 (28.8%)

17 (36.2%)

16 (34%)

14 (28.6%)

8 (16.7%)

 Class II

78 (40.8%)

19 (40.4%)

15 (31.9%)

24 (49%)

20 (41.7%)

0.087

 Class III

55 (28.8%)

9 (19.1%)

16 (34%)

10 (20.4%)

20 (41.7%)

 Class IV

3 (1.6%)

2 (4.3%)

0

1 (2%)

0

 Systolic

148.7 ± 38.4

158.5 ± 35.9

166.5 ± 38

145.2 ± 36.6

124.7 ± 29.7

<0.001

 Diastolic

84.9 ± 21.6

83.1 ± 23.5

89.1 ± 22.2

86.1 ± 21.9

81.3 ± 18.2

0.28

 Heart rate (bpm)

86.1 ± 21.5

79.2 ± 19.1

86 ± 20.3

87.7 ± 22.2

91.6 ± 23.1

0.032

 History of ischemic heart disease

80 (39%)

13 (25.5%)

23 (45.1%)

27 (51.9%)

17 (33.3%)

0.029

 Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

30 (14.6%)

6 (11.8%)

10 (19.6%)

6 (11.5%)

8 (15.7%)

0.617

 Diabetes

79 (38.5%)

15 (29.4%)

23 (45.1%)

24 (46.2%)

17 (33.3%)

0.206

 Hypertension

190 (93.1%)

46 (90.2%)

50 (98%)

49 (94.2%)

45 (90%)

0.324