prognosis
Last reviewed 01/2018
This is dependent on the severity of myocardial dysfunction.
It is poor when there is a short history with severe dilatation and poor functioning left ventricles, and there is no sustained response to treatment. If, in addition, right sided heart failure, mitral regurgitation, and atrial fibrillation are present, the prognosis is particularly bleak. End-stage heart failure may occur within weeks rather than months.
Ventricular ectopics are an indicator of poor prognosis as they mainly occur in patients with the most diseased ventricles.
Progression from mild disease to severe disease is not inevitable.
About 50% of deaths occur suddenly e.g. from arrhythmias.
The prognosis of alcohol induced cardiomyopathy is related to the degree of alcohol consumption.