Diagram of model 2.

<p>The state space is made by all the possible events described in the dataset: admission to hospital (H), to ICU or IHC, discharge from any state (OUT) and death.</p

Diagram of model 1.

<p>The first five hospitalizations are considered. “In” stands for admission in hospital, “Out” for discharge from hospital and “D” for death. Patients with first admission for HF are considered. No distinction has been done between rehospitalization for heart failure or for any cause.</p

Descriptive analysis of ICU/IHC events.

<p>Descriptive analysis of ICU/IHC events.</p

Hazard rates (and corresponding 95% CIs) for transitions of model 2.

<p>Hazard rates (and corresponding 95% CIs) for transitions of model 2.</p

Descriptive analysis of the whole cohort.

<p>Descriptive analysis of the whole cohort.</p

Mean changes in VE/VCO₂ slope <i>vs.</i> D_M caused by saline infusion alone (diamond), Bisoprolol (empty triangle), Carvedilol (empty square) and saline infusion with Bisoprolol (full triangle) and Carvedilol (full square).

<p>Mean changes in VE/VCO₂ slope <i>vs.</i> D_M caused by saline infusion alone (diamond), Bisoprolol (empty triangle), Carvedilol (empty square) and saline infusion with Bisoprolol (full triangle) and Carvedilol (full square).</p

Changes in the main functional parameters at rest (panel A) and with exercise (panel B) after saline infusion under Carvedilol (empty figures) and Bisoprolol (full figures) conditions with respect to baseline conditions.

<p>Statistical differences were examined by unpaired Student's <i>t</i>-test. Legend as in <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0061877#pone-0061877-g002" target="_blank">figure 2</a>. Symbols denote statistical significance (* = p<0.05; ** = <0.01;*** = p<0.001).</p

Changes in the main functional parameters at rest (panel A) and with exercise (panel B) after Carvedilol (empty figures) and Bisoprolol (full figures) with respect to baseline conditions.

<p>Statistical differences were examined by unpaired Student's <i>t</i>-test. Legend as in <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0061877#pone-0061877-g002" target="_blank">figure 2</a>. Symbols denote statistical significance (* = p<0.05; ** = p<0.01; *** = p<0.001).</p

Changes of the main functional parameters at rest (panel A) and with exercise (panel B) after saline infusion with respect to baseline conditions.

<p>Legend: FVC = Forced vital capacity; FEV₁ = Forced expiratory volume in 1 second; DLCO = Lung diffusion for carbon monoxide; D_M = Membrane diffusion; V_Cap = Capillary volume; VA = Alveolar volume; HR = Heart rate; VO₂peak = Oxygen uptake at peak exercise; VE/VCO₂slope = slope of the linear regression analysis of VE plotted <i>vs.</i> VCO₂ from the beginning of loaded pedaling to the end of the isocapnic buffering period. Statistical differences were examined by paired Student's <i>t</i>-test. Symbols denote statistical significance (** = p<0.01; *** = p<0.001).</p

Main anthropometric and functional parameters at rest and peak exercise.

<p>Legend: BMI = Body mass index; FEV₁ = Forced expiratory volume in 1 second; FVC = Forced vital capacity; DLCO = Diffusing lung capacity for carbon monoxide; D_M = Membrane diffusion; V_Cap = Capillary volume; VA = Alveolar volume; HR = Heart rate; VO₂peak = Oxygen uptake at peak exercise; VE/VCO₂ slope  = slope of the linear regression analysis of VE plotted <i>vs.</i> VCO₂.</p