Table 1.
Characteristics of patients (n = 123) upon study entry and healthy controls (n = 96)
| DCM | ECACC controls | |
|---|---|---|
| Age at study entry, years | 48.6 ± 13.9 | 37.4 ± 9.7 |
| Sex (female), n (%) | 28 (22.8) | 48 (50.0) |
| Clinical characteristics, n (%) | ||
| Familial DCM | 47 (38.2) | |
| NYHA | ||
| Class I | 56 (45.5) | |
| Class II | 51 (41.5) | |
| Class III | 16 (13.0) | |
| Atrial fibrillation (AF) | 21 (17.1) | |
| Left bundle branch block (LBBB) | 40 (32.5) | |
| LVEF, % | 29.3 ± 8.6 | |
| LVEDD, mm | 67.7 ± 9.3 | |
| LVESD, mm | 54.9 ± 11.0 | |
| ICD (history of sustained VT or VF), n (%) | 26 (21.1) | |
| History of unexplained syncope, n (%) | 8 (6.5) | |
| Medication at enrolment, n (%) | ||
| ACE inhibitor | 115 (93.5) | |
| Digitalis | 36 (29.3) | |
| Spirinolactone | 47 (38.2) | |
| Beta blockers | 93 (75.6) | |
| Amiodarone | 57 (46.3) | |
All values are mean ± standard deviation.
ECACC, European Collection of Cell Cultures; NYHA, New York Heart Association classification; LVEF, left ventricular ejection fraction; LVEDD, left ventricular end-diastolic dimension; LVESD, left ventricular end-systolic dimension; ICD, implantable cardioverter-defibrillator; VT, ventricular tachycardia; VF, ventricular fibrillation; ACE, angiotensin-converting enzyme.