Baseline clinical characteristics in different stages of heart failure.

Continuous variables expressed as mean±deviation (normal distribution) or medians with interquartile range (not normal distribution).*Stage C patients had a higher average heart rate, diuretic usage, uric acid level and NT-proBNP than the other three groups. A lower creatinine clearance was also found in stage C.*Stage B patients had a history of diuretic usage more than stage A and control groups.#Control group population had a lower average age, and aspirin, ACEI/ARB, β-Blockers, statin usage than the other three groups and they had no history of hyperlipidaemia, hypertension and diabetes mellitus. CCr, creatinine clearance; UA, uric acid; TC, total cholesterol, HbAlC, glycosylated haemoglobin; NT-proBNP, amino-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide.