Clinical characteristics of patients with chronic heart failure (n=173)
| Clinical characteristic | Value |
| Age (years) | 69.8 (58.8–76.8) |
| Men (n, %) | 148 (85.5) |
| BMI (kg/m2) | 29.1 (25.4–32.7) |
| Neck size (cm) | 40.0 (38.0–43.0) |
| Waist/hip ratio | 1.02 (0.98–1.06) |
| Diabetes (n, %) | 44 (25) |
| COPD/asthma (n, %) | 34 (20) |
| Ischaemic cardiomyopathy (n, %) | 89 (51) |
| β blocker therapy (n, %) | 126 (73) |
| ACEI/ARB therapy (n, %) | 157 (91) |
| Atrial fibrillation (n, %) | 52 (30) |
| Cardiac pacing (n, %) | 50 (29) |
| NYHA classification (I/II/III/IV) | 24/110/37/2 |
| BNP (pg/ml) | 118 (55–239) |
| Left ventricular ejection fraction (%) | 40 (28–58) |
Data are presented as median (IQR), or number (%) of patients.
ACEI/ARB, ACE inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker; BMI, body mass index; BNP, B-type natriuretic peptide; COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; NYHA, New York Heart Association.