New research in JAMA confirms a family link to a heart condition called idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy, which can result in an enlarged and weakened heart. The authors note the study further supports clinical guidelines for patients diagnosed with IDC to share the news with first-degree family members. At-risk family members should then be screened for the condition.
As part of the NHLBI-supported DCM Precision Medicine Study, researchers partnered with 1,220 patients with IDC and 1,693 of their first-degree family members to learn about the prevalence of this heart condition in families. Through this research, they found that IDC was more common among first-degree relatives of patients receiving specialized medical care for the condition. Black patients also had a higher prevalence of having a first-degree family member with IDC compared to white patients. For example, about four in 10 Black patients and three in 10 white patients had a family member with IDC. Historically, the condition has been found to occur in about one in 250 adults. Through ongoing research at more than 20 medical centers, researchers will study potential genetic links and other factors that may be associated with IDC.
This research is supported by NHLBI and the National Human Genome Research Institute.