Table 3 Baseline characteristics of patients stratified by tertiles of pH
From: Value of arterial blood gas analysis in patients with acute dyspnea: an observational study
Variable | pH ≤7.39 (n= 174) | pH 7.40- 7.44 (n= 177) | pH ≥7.45 (n= 179) | P-value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Age, years | 74 (64-81) | 74 (64-82) | 75 (64-81) | 0.99 |
Male sex, n (%) | 62 (64) | 80 (45) | 75 (42) | 0.18 |
   Medical History, n (%) |  |  |  |  |
   Coronary heart disease | 76 (44) | 67 (38) | 65 (36) | 0.33 |
   Arterial hypertension | 106 (61) | 119 (67) | 106 (59) | 0.26 |
   Stroke/peripheral arterial disease | 37 (22) | 34 (19) | 30 (17) | 0.53 |
   Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease | 80 (46) | 85 (48) | 72 (40) | 0.31 |
   Asthma | 7 (4.0) | 14 (7.9) | 13 (7.3) | 0.28 |
   Any pulmonary disease | 107 (62) | 113 (64) | 94 (53) | 0.07 |
   Pulmonary embolism | 14 (8.0) | 20 (11) | 15 (8.4) | 0.51 |
   Deep venous thrombosis | 16 (9.2) | 23 (13) | 13 (7.3) | 0.18 |
   Diabetes mellitus | 45 (26) | 40 (23) | 35 (20) | 0.37 |
   Chronic kidney disease | 51 (29) | 43 (24) | 33 (19) | 0.06 |
   Depressive disorder | 22 (13) | 27 (16) | 24 (24) | 0.69 |
   Malignancy | 28 (16) | 30 (17) | 38 (21) | 0.40 |
   Obesity | 47 (29) | 46 (27) | 32 (18) | 0.06 |
Smoking status, n (%) | Â | Â | Â | 0.01 |
   never | 14 (8.4) | 21 (13) | 33 (19) |  |
   current | 73 (44) | 54 (32) | 56 (31) |  |
   former | 54 (33) | 72 (43) | 71 (40) |  |
   unknown | 25 (15) | 20 (12) | 17 (9.1) |  |
Symptoms, n (%) | Â | Â | Â | Â |
   Dyspnea |  |  |  | 0.06 |
   NYHA II | 12 (6.9) | 20 (11) | 27 (15) |  |
   NYHA III | 79 (46) | 80 (45) | 89 (50) |  |
   NYHA IV | 83 (48) | 77 (44) | 63 (35) |  |
   Thoracic pain | 60 (35) | 62 (35) | 52 (29) | 0.41 |
   Orthopnea | 68 (56) | 104 (64) | 103 (62) | 0.61 |
   Weight gain | 20 (12) | 25 (15) | 18 (11) | 0.50 |
   Cough | 91 (54) | 116 (67) | 106 (62) | 0.04 |
   Expectorant | 68 (40) | 78 (45) | 81 (47) | 0.40 |
   Fever (> 38.5°C) | 38 (22) | 52 (30) | 54 (32) | 0.11 |
Medication, n (%) | Â | Â | Â | Â |
Diuretics | 92 (53) | 95 (54) | 85 (48) | 0.47 |
   Nitrate | 22 (13) | 21 (12) | 20 (11) | 0.92 |
   ACE inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers | 69 (40) | 88 (50) | 74 (42) | 0.14 |
   Beta-blocker | 48 (28) | 49 (28) | 56 (32) | 0.67 |
   Aspirin | 52 (30) | 62 (35) | 56 (32) | 0.57 |
   Phenprocoumon/LMWH | 39 (22) | 42 (24) | 38 (21) | 0.87 |
   Inhaled beta agonists | 59 (34) | 68 (38) | 54 (30) | 0.27 |
   Inhaled steroids | 46 (26) | 47 (36) | 54 (30) | 0.65 |
   Oral steroids | 23 (13) | 36 (20) | 34 (19) | 0.17 |
Clinical signs, n (%) | Â | Â | Â | Â |
   Rales | 81 (47) | 83 (47) | 87 (49) | 0.92 |
   Wheezing | 61 (35) | 65 (37) | 48 (27) | 0.10 |
   Lower extremity edema | 68 (39) | 70 (40) | 61 (34) | 0.48 |
   Jugular venous distension | 47 (27) | 24 (14) | 32 (18) | 0.01 |
   Hepatojugular reflux | 22 (13) | 21 (12) | 23 (13) | 0.98 |
Vital status | Â | Â | Â | Â |
   Systolic blood pressure (mmHg) | 143 (127-162) | 142 (126-165) | 136 (122-158) | 0.11 |
   Diastolic blood pressure (mmHg) | 88 (70-98) | 86 (74-96) | 82 (73-92) | 0.23 |
   Heart rate (beats per minute) | 95 (78-110) | 96 (82-111) | 89 (76-110) | 0.12 |
   Respiration rate (breaths per minute) | 25 (20-32) | 24 (20-30) | 22 (18-28) | 0.03 |
   Temperature (°C) | 37.1 (36.5-37.8) | 37.4 (36.7-39.7) | 37.4 (36.8-38.0) | 0.03 |
   Oxygen saturation (%) | 92 (87-96) | 96 (92-98) | 95 (93-98) | < 0.001 |
   Body mass index (kg/m2) | 26.2 (22.8-30.5) | 26.3 (22.8-30.6) | 25.3 (22.1-28.7) | 0.20 |
Laboratory values | Â | Â | Â | Â |
   Hemoglobin (g/L) | 139 (122-155) | 136 (123-150) | 136 (125-146) | 0.23 |
   Leukocytes (109/L) | 10.6 (8.0-15.0) | 10.0 (8.0-13.2) | 10.5 (8.3-13.6) | 0.40 |
   C-reactive protein (mg/L) | 15 (5-51) | 21 (6-80) | 27 (7-107) | 0.02 |
   Glomerular filtration rate (mL/min/1.73 m2) | 57 (39-86) | 64 (46-87) | 65 (52-90) | 0.06 |
   B-type natriuretic peptide (pg/mL) | 305 (93-810) | 254 (52-712) | 192 (65-760) | 0.14 |
Discharge diagnosis, n (%) | Â | Â | Â | Â |
   Acute heart failure | 81 (47) | 65 (37) | 60 (34) | 0.03 |
   Exacerbation of COPD or asthma | 37 (21) | 43 (24) | 38 (21) | 0.73 |
   Pneumonia or bronchitis | 29 (17) | 32 (18) | 33 (18) | 0.90 |
   Pulmonary embolism | 6 (3.4) | 10 (5.6) | 12 (6.7) | 0.38 |
   Anxiety disorder | 1 (0.6) | 4 (2.3) | 13 (7.3) | < 0.001 |
   Others | 20 (12) | 23 (13) | 23 (13) | 0.90 |