Table 1: Summary of the main characteristics of the two groups during hospitalization.
| Intervention | Control | p value | |
| Age (years) | 66.2 ± 15.4 | 67.7 ± 12.3 | NS |
| Men (%) | 71.9 | 68.6 | NS |
| HBP (%) | 75 | 71.4 | NS |
| Diabetes (%) | 56.3 | 62.1 | NS |
| Smoking (%) | 43.3 | 54.2 | NS |
| Anemia (%) | 43.8 | 45.2 | NS |
| Functional class III/IV at hospitalization (%) | 92.7 | 97.1 | NS |
| Diuretics at discharge (%) | 97 | 100 | NS |
| ACEI/ARB at discharge (%) | 94 | 97 | NS |
| MRA at discharge (%) | 81.3 | 68.6 | NS |
| Beta blockers at discharge (%) | 87.5 | 97 | NS |
| Beta blocker doses* | NS | ||
| - High (%) - Medium (%) - Low (%) |
7.1 28.6 64.3 |
5.9 38.2 55.9 |
|
| Ejection fraction at discharge (%) | 32.9 ± 8.7 | 31.9 ± 6.1 | NS |
| BNP at discharge (pg/ml) | 463 ± 495 | 671 ± 399 | NS |
| Heart rate at admission (bpm) | 87.3 ± 10.6 | 88.4 ± 11.2 | NS |
| Heart rate at discharge (bpm) | 70.1 ± 3.6 | 73.9 ± 9.3 | NS |
HBP: High Blood Pressure; ACEI: Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; ARB: Angiotensin Receptor Blockers; MRA: Mineral-Corticoid Antagonists; BNP: Brain Natriuretic Peptide; *see [13].