How often should the EF be checked & what % with dilated cardiomyopathy live

  How often should one have their EF monitored?  What percentage of people with dilated cardiomyopathy live a heatlty long life?
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Dear Alice:
I do not routinely monitor EF - it is just a crude number that does not predict much for an individual. I am much more concerned with the presence or absence of symptoms of heart failure. I have patients with an EF of 10% that are physically active and athletic. Other patients with an EF of 30% are incapacitated. While it is true that for a population of patients, those with a normal EF will live longer than those with a low EF, this sort of relationship breaks down at an individual level. With regards to dilated cardiomyopathy, about a third of patients get substantially better, a third get worse, and a third stay the same. The presence of dilated cardiomyopathy does not in and of itself decrease life span, but associated heart failure or arrhythmias can lead to premature death.
I hope this is useful. Feel free to write back with further questions.
Information provided here is for general purposes only.  Only your doctor can provide specific diagnoses and treatments.  If you would like to be seen at the Cleveland Clinic, please call 1-800-CCF-CARE for an appointment at Desk F25 with a cardiologist.

[shubham48]

A related discussion, Dilated  Cardiomyopathy was started.