Table 1 Baseline characteristics of the patients

Sex, male

21 (84)

Age, years

73.2 ± 5.9

Heart failure aetiology

 Ischaemic heart disease

14 (56)

 Dilated cardiomyopathy

4 (16)

 Other/Not known

7 (28)

LVEF, %

36.4 ± 8.9

Hypertension, yes

25 (100)

 Systolic BP, mmHg

129.1 ± 20.3

 Diastolic BP, mmHg

70.3 ± 14.9

Antihypertensive drugs, number

2 (1.5–3)

 RAS blocker, yes

15 (60)

 Beta-blocker, yes^a

23 (95.8)

 MRA, yes

11 (44)

 Furosemide, yes^b

17 (73.9)

Diabetes, yes

17 (68)

Dyslipidaemia, yes

23 (92)

Serum creatinine, mg/dL

2.2 ± 0.6

eGFR, mL/min/1.73m2

29.4 ± 8.3

Potassium, mEq/L

4.61 ± 0.6

PCR, mg/g

56.4 (26.3–427)

Visits to ED^c, number

1 (0–2)