Which noninvasive markers predict arrhythmia risk in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy?
In idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy, simple clinical markers (LVEF, beta-blocker use) predict arrhythmia risk better than complex noninvasive ECG parameters.
Reduced LV ejection fraction and lack of beta-blocker use are important arrhythmia risk predictors in IDC, whereas signal-averaged ECG, baroreflex sensitivity, heart rate variability, and T-wave alternans do not seem to be helpful for arrhythmia risk stratification. These findings have important implications for the design of future studies evaluating prophylactic implantable cardioverter-defibrillator therapy in IDC.
Grimm et al. (Tue,) studied this question.