Relative survival in dilated cardiomyopathy: a stratification study of long-term outcome to evaluate life insurance cover.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare mortality of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) patients with the mortality in the background Italian population, taking into account demographic characteristics and clinical stratification of long-term outcome, ie, "reverse remodelling" within the first 2 years of follow-up.

Background: DCM is a myocardial disease, characterized by left and/or right ventricular dilation and dysfunction and poor outcome. Evidence-based treatment with ACE inhibitors, beta-blockers and, in the last decade, implantable cardioverter defibrillators have been demonstrated to improve significantly heart failure symptoms and prognosis.