To assess possible influences of functional variables on quality of life,patients were divided into subgroups by the following commonly used cut off values20: peak oxygen uptake > or or < 450 m;left ventricular ejection fraction > or < 20%. This approach was chosenbecausetheexplicittestingofmediansplitsofthecurrent sample showed similar results—that is, peak oxygen uptake 14.6 ml/min/kg, six minute walk test 485 m, and left ventricular ejection fraction 21%.