Genetic Variants Are Not Rare in ICD Candidates with Dilated Cardiomyopathy: Time for Next-Generation Sequencing?

Table 1

Patients’ characteristics.

Characteristics	DCM patients ()
Gender, (%)
Male	12 (57)
Female	9 (43)
Age at diagnosis, years (mean ± SD)	40 ± 12
Age at ICD implantation, years (mean ± SD)	50 ± 12
Familial DCM, (%)	9 (43)
Idiopathic DCM, (%)	12 (57)
Family history, (%)
Heart failure-related death	7 (33)
Sudden death	3 (14)
Clinical presentation, (%)
Heart failure symptoms	7 (33)
Syncope or arrhythmia	3 (14)
Chest pain	5 (24)
Others	1 (5)
NYHA functional class, (%)
I	6 (28)
II	13 (62)
III	1 (5)
IV	1 (5)
Previous hospitalizations, (%)	13 (62)
Heart failure-related	10 (48)
Arrhythmic causes	7 (33)
Others^†	1 (5)
ECG data, (%)
AF/atrial flutter	4 (19)
LBBB	10 (48)
PVC	5 (24)
NSVT	6 (35)
Echocardiographic data
LVEDD (mm) (mean ± SD)	65 ± 7
LVEF (%) (mean ± SD)	27 ± 9
RV impairment, (%)	7 (33)
CMR data, (%)	7 (33)
LVEDV (mL/m^2) (mean ± SD)	144 ± 26
LVEF (%) (mean ± SD)	28 ± 10
LGE, (%)	2 (28)
Medical therapy, (%)
ACEI/ARB	19 (90)
Beta-blockers	18 (86)
MRA	14 (67)
Diuretic	12 (57)
Digoxin	6 (28)
Ivabradine	2 (10)

Asymptomatic left ventricular dysfunction diagnosed on medical sportive examination. ^†Elective hospitalization for atrial flutter ablation. ACEI: angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor; AF: atrial fibrillation; ARB: angiotensin II receptor blocker; CMR: cardiac magnetic resonance; DCM: dilated cardiomyopathy; ECG: electrocardiogram; ICD: implantable cardioverter defibrillator; LBBB: left bundle branch block; LGE: late gadolinium enhancement; LVEDD: left ventricular end-diastolic diameter; LVEDV: left ventricular end-diastolic volume; LVEF: left ventricular ejection fraction; MRA: mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist; NSVT: nonsustained ventricular tachycardia; NYHA: New York Heart Association; PVC: premature ventricular contraction; RV: right ventricle; SD: standard deviation.