title: Follow-up study in congestive (dilated) cardiomyopathy.
abstract: A follow-up study was carried out in 98 patients with congestive cardiomyopathy using clinical data and M-mode echocardiography. 59 patients survived (mean follow-up period 18 months), 39 patients died (mean survival period 12.6 months). Median survival time was 3 years. Prognosis was unfavorably affected by ECG signs (left bundle branch block, atrial fibrillation, ventricular premature beats), functional class 4, and left ventricular dysfunction presented by mitral E-point separation over 25 mm, left atrial dimension of 50 mm or more and posterior wall systolic thickening less than 50%. Age, excessive alcohol intake, left ventricular enddiastolic dimension or wall thickness did not affect prognosis. M-mode restudies preformed in 59 patients included a variable course within 2 years after first presentation but a progressive impairment of left ventricular function in mor than 2 years of follow-up.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis