title: Baseline characteristics of patients recruited into the CARE-HF study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is a promising new treatment for patients with heart failure and cardiac dyssynchrony. The CARE-HF study is a morbidity/mortality trial designed to provide conclusive evidence of the effects of CRT in patients with moderate to severe heart failure.
  
  
  METHODS
  A description of the baseline characteristics of patients randomised in the CARE-HF trial.
  
  
  RESULTS
  813 Patients with predominantly NYHA class III (94%) heart failure were randomised in 82 centres. Their mean age was 65 (interquartile range [IQR] 59 to 72) years, 34% were aged >70 years and 27% were women. Thirty-eight percent of the patients had ischaemic heart disease. Mean heart rate was adequately controlled at 70 (IQR 60 to 78) bpm consistent with the use of beta-blockers. Supine systolic blood pressure was low at 117 (IQR 105 to 130) mm Hg. Eighty-eight percent of patients had a QRS > or =150 ms. Mean LV ejection fraction was 26% (IQR 22 to 29) and end-diastolic dimension was 7.2 (IQR 6.4 to 7.8) cm. Ninety-four percent of patients were receiving loop diuretics, 95% an ACE inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB), 72% a beta-blocker and 56% were taking spironolactone.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The patients enrolled in CARE-HF had moderately severe heart failure and cardiac dysfunction with evidence of cardiac dyssynchrony. The population appears at high risk of events despite pharmacological therapy and therefore appropriate for a trial of CRT.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Castle Hill Hospital, Castle Road, Cottingham, University of Hull, Kingston upon Hull, UK HU16 5JQ. J.G.Cleland@hull.ac.uk
authors.forename: J G F
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Cleland
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Daubert
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Erdmann
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Freemantle
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gras
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kappenberger
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Klein
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tavazzi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D001283:Atrioventricular Node; D002304:Cardiac Pacing, Artificial; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic; D018579:Patient Selection; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*