Heart failure & cardiomyopathies
The yield and clinical impact of genetic testing in older patients with dilated cardiomyopathy
Authors' conclusion
One fifth of older patients with DCM carry disease causing genetic variants, including those associated with a higher risk of MVA. Adverse event rates in older genotype-positive patients with DCM are comparable to their younger counterparts.
Study context
- Population
- Consecutive, unrelated genotyped patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), single referral centre166 genotype-positive
- Participants
- 686 participants
- Exposure
- Genotype-positive patients ≥55 years vs <55 years
- ≥55 yearsn = 54
- <55 yearsn = 94reference
- Outcome
- Composite of:
- End-stage HF
- Malignant ventricular arrhythmia (MVA)
- Follow-up
- Median 50 months
Methodological detailssingle referral centre, consecutive unrelated patients
- Single referral centre
- Consecutive unrelated patients
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
End-stage HF or MVA (genotype-positive, no baseline MVA)
P = 0.4
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Yield of genetic testing
- Genotype-positive, all patients
- 166 (24.2%)
- Genotype-positive, patients over 55 years
- 60 of 308 (19.5%)
- Variants in genes with higher malignant ventricular arrhythmia (MVA) risk, genotype-positive over 55 years
- 18 (30%)
Original publication
The yield and clinical impact of genetic testing in older patients with dilated cardiomyopathy. Eur J Heart Fail. Published 3 March 2026. doi:10.
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