Epidemiological study of the idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy in Tunisia

Aims of the study

Idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDC) is a complex disease. The interest of this study were to investigate the epidemiology characteristics of the disease and to evaluate the prognostic echocardiographic markers by region in order to highlight the existence of genetic risk factors and/or environmental and to identify those patients who could benefit from early treatment and better care to avoid further complications of the disease.

Patients and methods

This is a retrospective study based on the Fischer exact and bilateral Mann-Whitney test.

Results

We included 526 patients with dilated cardiomyopathies of them we detected 50 cases of IDC including 12 families: The average age was 39,3 ± 15.2 years. The sex ratio was 2.6. Mean left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (DIVGd) was higher in patients from the North East region (44.3 ± 6.2 mm/m²). Using Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC) curve, we found a threshold value of 40 mm/m². The odds ratio associated with this cutoff was 9.2.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that the prevalence and severity of IDC were higher in the North East region of Tunisia. Furthermore, large-scale prospective studies are needed to confirm these findings. In confirmation of a higher prevalence, a genetic study should be undertaken in this region.