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Heart Disease (Expert Forum)
Longevity of Dilated Cardiomyopathy Diagnosis
This forum is for questions and support regarding heart issues such as: Angina, Angioplasty, Arrhythmia, Bypass Surgery, Cardiomyopathy, Coronary Artery Disease, Defibrillator, Heart Attack, Heart Disease, High Blood Pressure, Mitral Valve, Pacemaker, PAD, Stenosis, Stress Tests
Longevity of Dilated Cardiomyopathy Diagnosis
by BoulderJD, Apr 26, 2007 12:00AM
I just found this site this morning and have been reading through the posts on dilated cardiomyopathy. I was diagnosed last summer with an EF of 25% and severe blockage in one artery. After inserting a medicated stint, and taking the max dosage of coreg (50 mg daily), tricor, altace, plavix, zetia and lipitor for nearly a year, my EF is 45%. Aside from feeling tired, and not having the energy for skiing and hiking, I feel pretty good for a man of 54. After visiting my cardiologist this week for a regular checkup, I asked him for a prognosis. He said, "Well, considering we estimate you've had cardiomyopathy for four years, and considering the life expectancy is five years, I would say you've got a good solid one year left, but who knows". That sounded awfully pessimistic to me. Most of the posts I’ve read here don’t mention the possibility of sudden death within five years of diagnosis. Just wondering what you all think.
Doctor's Answer
by Forum-M.D.-MJM, Apr 26, 2007 12:00AM
Hello,
There are many way to risk stratify someones risk of dying from heart failure. Applying a blanket rule that the life expectancy is 5 years is not a safe assumption. It has more to due with the type of heart failure (systolic, diastolic, or both), the degree of symptoms and progression of symptoms, response to medications, etc.
The fact that your heart function has improved with what sounds like a good heart failure regimen is an encouraging sign.
There are strong studies that show that people with reduced heart function (less than 36%) with New York Heart Association class 2-3 symptoms, a defibrillator would reduce the risk of cardiac arrest. There is no data for an defibrillator placement in someone without ventricular tachycardia or previous cardiac arrest if your ejection fraction has improved to 45%.
I hope this answers your questions. Thanks for posting.
There are many way to risk stratify someones risk of dying from heart failure. Applying a blanket rule that the life expectancy is 5 years is not a safe assumption. It has more to due with the type of heart failure (systolic, diastolic, or both), the degree of symptoms and progression of symptoms, response to medications, etc.
The fact that your heart function has improved with what sounds like a good heart failure regimen is an encouraging sign.
There are strong studies that show that people with reduced heart function (less than 36%) with New York Heart Association class 2-3 symptoms, a defibrillator would reduce the risk of cardiac arrest. There is no data for an defibrillator placement in someone without ventricular tachycardia or previous cardiac arrest if your ejection fraction has improved to 45%.
I hope this answers your questions. Thanks for posting.
As for the cardiologist, I've replayed our session over and over in my mind. He has had my chart confused with another patient twice before. I know he has lots of patients, and while a skilled surgeon, he doesn't have the best bedside manners.
With the correction of your blockage and your rise in EF%, I would have expected a better prognosis from your Cardio. HF just isn't that clear cut from what I understand, especially if the underlying cause can be successfully controlled or corrected.
I was wondering if your cardio has ever suggested possible CRT therapy now or in the future? I'm not sure what the EF % has to be to qualify in each individual case, but my aunt has been feeling great and getting better and better since it's implant.
"Results from COMPANION confirm that patients receiving either kind of (CRT-P or CRT-D) device had more than a 20% reduction in the composite endpoint of the study (i.e., total hospitalizations and death from any cause.) Furthermore, patients who received the CRT-plus-defibrillator showed a 36% reduction in mortality alone."
"Some studies have shown that CRT pacemakers can slow or stop the process. Over time, CRT pacemakers can even help the heart get smaller again. They can reverse some of the damage caused by heart failure."
Best wishes.
Seriously, this doctor is confusing your chart and saying things like this...I have no respect for that. I'd be SO firing that doctor.
Just thought I would fill everyone in on what has been going in the the last 8 months.
I started feeling bad and went to see my cardiologist. He told me that I had a 35% EF and that he thought I had a viral infection. He said we would not do anything and just keep an eye on it.
Since I have high blood pressure and a very large amount of PVC'S I thought this is it and made an appointment at Cleveland Clinic. I was there for 2 days and my EF was still 35%. They wanted to do a heart cath and so that was what we did the following day.
I was told that I need a pace maker defibulator and we scheduled that surgery for a couple of weeks.
I was home about a week and just a few days before I was scheduled for surgical implant. They called and said that according to the cath my ejection fraction had came back up to 55% and they did not think it was necessary now.
It was just a viral infection. My family and I were shocked at the confusion but thrilled with the results.
We have a new cardio here in Portsmouth Ohio so I thought why go back there for check up if everything is ok. I made an appointment with her and she did echo and her own work up and got all records from Cleveland Clinic.
My ejection fraction is holding at 42% and diagnosis is just cardiomyopathy and many pvcs. All I am on is Coreg for my heart 6.25 twice daily, 40 lasix twice daily and hyzaar 50 12.5 blood pressure.
Does anyone know if this would be considered Heart Failure because I saw that on a report that I got...cronic heart failure but she has not came out and told me that.
She said everything was fine and I long as I took my meds we were good. She even told me I could go back to my regular physician and call her if I felt like any changes? But, I told her I would be more comfortable seeing her too every three months.
I really would appreciate anyones comments you can look up previous posts.
I am female, 48 years old and have 2 children 2 step-children and 9 grandchildren a full time job as a administrative assistant for a financial advisor and a part time realtor. Yeah I am tired and have pain but hey I have no intentions of just being around five years.
Lisa ***@****
Cardiomyopathy is a type of heart failure, so to speak. It doesn't mean your heart has quit, it just means it isn't as efficient. CHF or Congestive Heart Failure refers to volume overload, like fluid in the lungs.