Baseline characteristics
| Variables | No vasodilators | Vasodilator and ≤25% BP reduction | Vasodilator and >25% BP reduction | P values |
| n=735 | n=554 | n=381 | ||
| Age, years | 78±12 | 77±13 | 77±12 | 0.191 |
| Male | 390 (53.1) | 329 (59.4) | 207 (54.3) | 0.068 |
| Cardiovascular disease | 411 (56.7) | 307 (56.0) | 220 (59.1) | 0.626 |
| Pulmonary rate | 440 (60.1) | 344 (62.2) | 314 (82.4) | <0.001 |
| Peripheral oedema | 503 (68.6) | 410 (74.0) | 230 (60.5) | <0.001 |
| Baseline systolic BP, mm Hg | 135±31 | 141±27 | 188±32 | <0.001 |
| Baseline diastolic BP, mm Hg | 76±20 | 79±21 | 104±28 | <0.001 |
| Baseline heart rate, bpm | 94±28 | 94±28 | 109±27 | <0.001 |
| Heart rhythm | ||||
| Sinus rhythm | 362 (49.6) | 300 (54.2) | 244 (64.2) | <0.001 |
| Atrial fibrillation | 286 (39.2) | 191 (34.5) | 112 (29.5) | |
| Others | 82 (11.2) | 62 (11.2) | 24 (6.3) | |
| Left ventricular ejection fraction, % | ||||
| 35 | 262 (38.8) | 201 (37.6) | 128 (36.1) | 0.519 |
| 35–50 | 189 (28.0) | 149 (27.9) | 116 (32.7) | |
| 50 | 225 (33.3) | 184 (34.5) | 111 (31.3) | |
| Prior history of heart failure | 408 (55.6) | 285 (51.4) | 155 (40.7) | <0.001 |
| Comorbidities | ||||
| Hypertension | 445 (60.5) | 378 (68.5) | 297 (78.0) | <0.001 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 242 (32.9) | 219 (39.7) | 155 (40.7) | 0.01 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease | 78 (10.6) | 36 (6.6) | 37 (9.8) | 0.038 |
| Coronary artery disease | 188 (25.6) | 188 (34.1) | 126 (33.1) | 0.002 |
| Medications | ||||
| Loop diuretics | 413 (56.3) | 292 (53.1) | 139 (37.0) | <0.001 |
| ACE inhibitors or angiotensin receptor antagonist | 0.44 (0.50) | 0.46 (0.50) | 0.50 (0.50) | 0.171 |
| Beta blocker | 314 (43.0) | 243 (43.9) | 155 (41.2) | 0.713 |
| MR angiography | 207 (28.2) | 105 (19.0) | 59 (15.5) | <0.001 |
| Laboratory data | ||||
| White cell count | 7050 (5600, 9400) | 7300 (5600, 9575) | 8900 (6900, 11 800) | <0.001 |
| Haemoglobin | 11.6±2.2 | 11.6±2.34 | 12.1±2.41 | <0.001 |
| Aspartate aminotransferase | 31 (23, 47) | 30 (22, 46) | 32 (24, 48) | 0.687 |
| Alanine aminotransferase | 22 (13, 37) | 22 (14, 37) | 21 (14, 36) | 0.501 |
| Creatinine | 1.08 (0.81, 1.56) | 1.22 (0.87, 1.78) | 1.09 (0.84, 1.44) | 0.001 |
| Blood urea nitrogen | 25 (18, 36) | 26 (19, 39) | 23 (17, 31) | <0.001 |
| Sodium | 138±5 | 139±5 | 140±4 | <0.001 |
| Glucose | 155±73 | 160±75 | 199±86 | <0.001 |
| C-reactive protein | 0.75 (0.22, 2.24) | 0.85 (0.26, 2.55) | 0.45 (0.13, 1.21) | <0.001 |
| Brain natriuretic peptide | 710 (452, 1312) | 794 (432, 1556) | 745 (457, 1150) | 0.086 |
BP, blood pressure.