Copyright © 1997 by the European Society of Cardiology.
© 1997 The European Society of Cardiology
Epidemiology of dilated cardiomyopathy
A prospective post-mortem study of 5252 necropsies
Cardiology Department Trieste, Italy
*Department of Pathology, Ospedale Maggiore and University Trieste, Italy
revised 29 April 1996; accepted 2 May 1996.
Correspondence: G. Sinagra, MD, Cardiology Department, Ospedale Maggiore and University, Trieste, Italy
Abstract
Dilated cardiomyopathy is a heart muscle disease of unknown aetiology, characterized by left ventricular dilatation and impaired systolic function. Data on the incidence and prevalence of the disease is ambiguous, due to geographic variations, patient selection and the diagnostic criteria adopted.
Methods All the post-mortem and clinical cases observed in a consecutive series of 5252 patients resident in Trieste during the period November 1987–November 1989 were studied.
Results Incidence of the disease discovered at autopsy was estimated at 4·5/100 000/year (24 cases), while clinical incidence in the same period was 2·45/100 000/year (13 cases). This is a total incidence of 6·95/100 000 new cases a year. A possible family history of heart muscle disease was found in three patients (12·5%). In 15 patients (62·5%) deaths were due to cardiological complications. Endocardial thickening (P=0·03), fatty infiltration (P=0·01) and arterial involvement (P=0·04) were found more frequently in older patients (>65 years).
Conclusions The study confirms that dilated cardiomyopathy in Europe has a higher incidence than previously suggested and emphasizes the need for greater diagnostic sensitivity, particularly since pharmacological treatment is now so effective.
Key Words: Dilated cardiomyopathy • epidemiology • heart failure
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  D. D. Schocken, E. J. Benjamin, G. C. Fonarow, H. M. Krumholz, D. Levy, G. A. Mensah, J. Narula, E. S. Shor, J. B. Young, and Y. Hong Prevention of Heart Failure: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association Councils on Epidemiology and Prevention, Clinical Cardiology, Cardiovascular Nursing, and High Blood Pressure Research; Quality of Care and Outcomes Research Interdisciplinary Working Group; and Functional Genomics and Translational Biology Interdisciplinary Working Group Circulation, May 13, 2008; 117(19): 2544 - 2565. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 D. S. Lee, M. J. Pencina, E. J. Benjamin, T. J. Wang, D. Levy, C. J. O'Donnell, B.-H. Nam, M. G. Larson, R. B. D'Agostino, and R. S. Vasan Association of parental heart failure with risk of heart failure in offspring. N. Engl. J. Med., July 13, 2006; 355(2): 138 - 147. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 L. Van Hoe and M. Vanderheyden Ischemic Cardiomyopathy: Value of Different MRI Techniques for Prediction of Functional Recovery After Revascularization Am. J. Roentgenol., January 1, 2004; 182(1): 95 - 100. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|