Key result
Dilated cardiomyopathy carries ~50% mortality within five years despite available treatments.
Why the study?
Secondary causes must be ruled out before primary dilated cardiomyopathy can be diagnosed, and the interprofessional team plays an important role in disease management.
Effect estimate: ~50% mortality at 5 years
This article provides a comprehensive overview of the etiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management of dilated cardiomyopathy.
Highlights persistent high mortality in dilated cardiomyopathy; leaves open development of more effective therapies.
Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a disease of heart muscle manifested by enlargement and dilation of one or both of the ventricles along with impaired contractility narrated as left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) less than 40%. Patients may or may not have overt signs of heart failure, but they are by definition exhibiting systolic dysfunction. There are two types of DCM for this disease process: primary and secondary. Since primary DCM is thought to be idiopathic, secondary causes must be ruled out before the diagnosis can be made. This exercise describes the causes, symptoms, and importance of the interprofessional team in managing dilated cardiomyopathy.
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G. et al. (2026) conducted a review in Patients with dilated cardiomyopathy characterized by left ventricular ejection fraction less than 40%, with or without overt heart failure symptoms, predominantly adults aged 20-60. Dilated cardiomyopathy leads to approximately 50% mortality within five years despite available treatments.
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