Case Series: Is Minimal Coronary Artery Disease a Prognostic Indicator in Dilated Cardiomyopathy?

Background The aim of this study was to study the prognostic implications of minimal coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCMP) in terms of mortality and hospitalization due to heart failure. Methods One-hundred sixty-three patients with DCMP were recruited for this study. Out of these, 61.9% (n = 101; 62.4% men) patients were without associated minimal CAD and 38% (n = 62; 66.1% men) with associated minimal CAD (stenosis < 50%), and their risk factor profile was noted. These patients were followed for 30 months, with mortality being the primary endpoint, and hospitalization secondary to cardiac decompensation in the form of heart failure was denoted as the secondary endpoint. Results In our study, independent significant predictors of CAD were age (p = 0.002), hypertension (p = 0.001), diabetes (p < 0.001), and smoking (p = 0.023). The presence of minimal CAD in DCMP patients as a predictor of mortality was not significant (odds ratio [OR]: 1.69, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.62–4.62, p = 0.303); however, it was a significant predictor of hospitalization secondary to cardiac decompensation (OR: 6.78, 95% CI: 2.28–20.13, p = 0.001). Conclusions Minimal CAD was observed in 38% of DCMP patients. The risk factor profile predicting CAD in DCMP patients was the same as that of the general population. The presence of minimal CAD in DCMP patients was not associated with mortality. However, it was associated with hospitalization secondary to cardiac decompensation in the form of heart failure.