**3. Results**

## *3.1. Baseline Characteristics*

A total of 178 patients (48 ± 14.4 years old, 74.7% male) met the enrolment criteria (Figure 1). They were divided in two groups according to LGE+ and LGE− (*n* = 64, 36% vs. *n* = 114, 64%). The baseline characteristics are presented in Table 1.


**Table 1.** Baseline characteristics of patients in study.

Abbreviations: ACEI, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor; ARB, angiotensin receptor blocker; DT, early diastolic filling deceleration time; E, peak mitral flow velocity; E', early diastolic peak myocardial velocity; eGFR, estimated glomerular filtration rate; IQR, interquartile range; LAS, left ventricular longitudinal-axis strain; LAV, left atrial volume; LGE, left ventricular late gadolinium enhancement; LVEDV, left ventricular end-diastolic volume; LVEF, left ventricular ejection fraction; LVESV, left ventricular end-systolic volume; LVM, left ventricular mass; LVSI, left ventricular sphericity index; *n*, number of patients; NT-proBNP, N-terminal pro-Brain Natriuretic Peptide; NYHA, New York Heart Association; RVEDV, right ventricular end-diastolic volume; RVEF, right ventricular ejection fraction; RVESV, right ventricular end-systolic volume; SD, standard deviation; sPAP, systolic pulmonary artery pressure; TAPSE, tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion. Data are reported as mean (standard deviation) or median (IQR) or *n* (%).

At admission, 54 (30.3%) presented with dyspnoea, 28 (15.7%) with palpitations and 18 (10.1%) had history of syncope. LGE+ patients had significantly increased LV end-diastolic filling pressures (E/E' ratio; *p* < 0.001) and many more of these had LVEF < 30% (*n* = 46, 71.8%). The LGE+ group presented with increased LVM index <sup>≥</sup> 92 g/m<sup>2</sup> (*<sup>p</sup>* <sup>=</sup> 0.01), LVEDV <sup>≥</sup> 145.5 mL/m2 (*<sup>p</sup>* <sup>&</sup>lt; 0.001), LVSI <sup>≥</sup> 0.43 (*p* < 0.001) and reduced LAS < −7.8% (*p* < 0.001).
