Clinical Characteristics:
The baseline clinical characteristics of the study
groups are shown in Table I. Both study groups
were similar regarding age, gender, body mass
index, and heart rate. Hemoglobin level was significantly
lower in ESRD patients. Systemic hypertension
was highly prevalent among ESRD
patients (83%) and in many patients it was not
adequately controlled with the consequence that
systolic and diastolic blood pressure readings
were significantly higher when compared to controls.
The median duration between diagnosis of
ESRD and enrolment was 9 days (range 3–60
days)