altitude and CHF

  My wife has been diagnosed with nonischemic cardiomyopathy with a current
  ejection fraction of 40%. We had been planning to retire to a town at
  4200 feet altitude, but this would seem contrary to the medication goal
  of reducing the work of the heart.  Is there any evidence about the rate
  of progression of congestive health failure at altitudes like this
  compared to lower altitudes?
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Dear Neil
There are no controlled clinical trials that have looked into your question. However, assuming that your wife is asymptomatic from her cardiomyopathy, the move to the high altitude location should not pose a problem, especially once her body gets used to it. I doubt it would affect the rate of progression of her cardiomyopathy.
I hope this has been useful. Feel free to write back with further questions. Good luck.
Information provided here is of a general nature.  Specific diagnoses and treatments can only be made by your doctor.  If you would like to be seen at the Cleveland Clinic, please call 1-800-CCF-CARE for an appointment with a cardiologist at Desk F15.