title: Differences in Clinical Presentation and Findings between Idiopathic Dilated and Ischaemic Cardiomyopathy in an Unselected Population of Heart Failure Patients.
abstract: We explored the differences in epidemiologic, clinical, laboratory and echocardiographic characteristics between idiopathic dilated (IDCM) and ischaemic cardiomyopathy (ICM).Consecutive patients with stable chronic heart failure evaluated at a tertiary cardiac centre were enrolled. Clinical examination, blood tests and echocardiographic study were performed. A total of 76 patients (43 IDCM, 33 ICM) were studied. IDCM patients were younger (p<0.001) and female gender was more prevalent (p=0.022). NYHA class and left ventricular ejection fraction were similar. IDCM patients had lower rates of dyslipidaemia (p<0.001) but smoked more than ICM patients (p=0.023) and had higher rates of family history of sudden cardiac death (p=0.048). Blood pressure was similar but resting heart rate was higher in IDCM patients (p=0.022). IDCM patients presented less frequently with peripheral oedema or ascites (p=0.046 and 0.020, respectively) and showed better right ventricular function on echocardiogram. QRS duration was similar between groups but only in IDCM patients there was a positive correlation between QRS duration and age (r=0.619, p<0.001). Cardiac output was similar but functional capacity assessed by the Duke Activity Status Index was better in IDCM (p=0.036). Despite these differences, IDCM and ICM patients received similar treatments. Patients with IDCM were younger, presented lower rates of right ventricular dysfunction and clinical right ventricular failure and had better functional capacity. Additional differences in clinical and laboratory findings exist pointing to a different patient population with diverse prognosis and potential need for individualized management.
authors.affiliation: First Cardiology Department, AHEPA University Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Lilian
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mantziari
authors.forename: Antonis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ziakas
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ventoulis
authors.forename: Vasileios
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kamperidis
authors.forename: Leonidas
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lilis
authors.forename: Niki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Katsiki
authors.forename: Savvato
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Karavasiliadou
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kiraklidis
authors.forename: Christodoulos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pliakos
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gemitzis
authors.forename: Haralambos
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Karvounis
authors.forename: Ioannis H
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Styliadis