| Features | Average ± standard deviation | N (%) |
| Age | 56 ± 16 |
|
| Female |
| 103 (50.5) |
| Living in urban area |
| 169 (82.8) |
| Living as a couple |
| 148 (72.5) |
| Educational level Not enrolled at school Primary school level |
|
95 (46.6) 46 (22.5) |
| Low socio-economical level |
| 102 (50) |
| Heart failure duration so far Less than one year Over five years |
|
28 (13.7) 59 (28.9) |
| Several hospital admissions because of acute decompensation |
| 53 (26) |
| Functional class of NYHA dyspnea Phase I Phase II Phase III/IV |
|
121 (59.3) 71 (34.8) 12 (5.9) |
| Systolic blood pressure Tension < 100 mmHg |
| 20 (9.8%) |
| Creatinine clearance | 52.3 ± 15.4 ml/min |
|
| End-stage or severe renal failure |
| 18 (8.8) |
| Presence of atrial fibrillation |
| 32 (15.7) |
| Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) | 47.8% ± 14.7% |
|
| Impairment of the LVEF |
| 82 (40.2) |
| Pulmonary arterial blood pressure |
| 83 (40.7) |
| Medical therapy Furosemide + IEC/ARA II + spironolactone Furosemide + IEC/ARA II + spironolactone + beta-blocker Furosemide + IEC/ARA II + spironolactone + digitalis therapy |
|
114 (55.9 %)
26 (12.7%)
17 (8.3 %) |